The cotton sector in Zimbabwe is on the verge of collapse. Cotton contributed sustainably to rural income, development, employment and export earnings. It was the mainstay of rural communities. The sector was a major source of livelihood for over one million people, including farmers, farm workers and the textile industry as it once contributed about 19 per cent to the country’s agricultural export earnings.

However, the 2014-2015 crop season indicates that the sector is in serious trouble because many farmers have failed to access adequate inputs from contractors. Thousands of farmers have been left stranded without any input support. Cotton farmers have failed to go back to the fields arguing that contractors have reduced farmers to mere laborers and that it is no longer viable to continue producing the cash crop.

The cost of production is too high in Zimbabwe compared to other countries, while the depressed international prices have also contributed to the decline in the number of farmers producing cotton. Farmers have abandoned cotton production due to distortion in the producer price which has had a negative effect on production. Prices this year are expected to decline further as China releases its cotton stockpile on the market. Another reason is uncurbed United States subsidies.