Unpacking cotton standards

Tapiwa Nyasha Mutonda

COTTON contributes significantly to Zimbabwe’s agriculture sector and the country’s overall economic development.

The crop’s importance to the economy can be analysed from various perspectives, including its contribution to employment, export earnings, provision of raw materials and rural livelihoods.

Despite such a contribution to the economy, seed cotton quality has declined in recent years.

Over the years, cotton produced in Zimbabwe has enjoyed a reputation of being among the least contaminated in the world owing to the fact that it is handpicked.

While launching the 2023 cotton marketing season in Mahuwe last May, Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development Minister Dr Anxious Masuka bemoaned the poor quality of seed cotton, before urging farmers to carry out some pre-grading so that their crop can be of good grades and fetch attractive prices on the market.

Seed cotton is one of the commodities that the Agricultural Marketing Authority (AMA) monitors for its quality.

To achieve this, seed cotton grading is done according to prescribed standards. The grades are A, B, C and D.

These national grades are tailored to match the international United States Department of Agriculture standards, which then speak to the market across the globe.

In this light, AMA annually prepares sets of seed cotton standards representing four grades of hand-picked cotton. These show the maximum number of downgrading faults acceptable in each grade.

Boxes are prepared, viewed and certified by all ginners, farmers’ representatives, cotton merchants, the agriculture ministry and AMA upon agreeing on the quality for that season, which is closely knit to climatic conditions.

Each grade is placed in metal boxes that are then dispatched to all registered cotton merchants. The grading boxes should then be used as yardsticks for grades, to educate farmers on cotton grades and as references in cases of arbitration.

Grade definitions are as follows:

Grade A — White or slightly grey seed cotton, which is moderately soil-stained or insect-stained or plant-stained. Small amounts of cotton leaf trash are tolerated.

No other impurities are permitted. Slight but not obvious amounts of weak or immature fibres are permissible.

Grade B — Seed cotton containing obvious but not substantial amounts of weak or immature fibres, soil stain or insect stain or otherwise discoloured fibres or leaf trash.

Small amounts of cotton leaf trash are tolerated. No obvious stick or other plant parts are permitted.

Grade C — Seed cotton containing substantial but not excessive amounts of weak or immature fibres, soil stained or insect stained or otherwise discoloured fibres, leaf and other trash and damaged seed.

Grade D — Seed cotton which cannot be classified as grade A, B or C but has value to produce lint.

No seed cotton which, because of excess moisture, is likely to cause the development of moulds or heating in storage, or seed cotton by itself or mixed with any other matter which is likely to cause damage to ginning machinery is permitted. Equipped with these national standards, AMA is empowered to institute measures necessary to ensure order and efficiency in the marketing of seed cotton to balance the interests of farmers and contractors.

Accordingly, the authority, in line with the Agricultural Marketing Authority (Seed Cotton and Seed Cotton Products) Regulations 2009, as amended by Statutory Instruments 63 of 2011 and 118 of 2022, has come up with directions for grading and payment of grade differential prices for seed cotton.

Section 14(4) of the Agricultural Marketing Authority (Seed Cotton and Seed Cotton Products) Regulations 2009, as amended, provides that all seed cotton shall be graded at the point of sale and where there are no grading facilities at the point of sale, the grower may opt to receive part payment for the seed cotton or receive full payment after grading.

It further provides that all contractors shall inform growers of their grade results by displaying grade results at every common buying point within seven days of grading and pay the grower grade differential prices.

The payment of grade differential prices will go a long way in motivating farmers to exercise pregrading at the homestead level, leading to improved cotton grades.

In conclusion, quality improvement requires a concerted effort by all stakeholders to improve fibre properties through research and better production, handling and marketing practices.

Tapiwa Nyasha Mutonda is a cotton quality expert. Word From The Market is a column produced by AMA to promote market-driven production. Feedback: [email protected] or WhatsApp +263781706212.