Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries (CZI) is urging industry leaders to increase value addition to cotton to reduce imports in the textile and clothing sector and boost the economy.

As outlined in the National Developmente Strategy 1 (NDSI) for re-industrializaiton, this will also help boost jobs and offer economic benefits, aligning with Zimbabwe's strategy of import substitution to strengthen its manufacturing sector, CZI says.

Cotton production in Zimbabwe declined from 360,000 metric tons in 2011 to just 13,000 metric tons in 2024. This shortage is forcing local industries to increase fabric imports.

In collaboration with farmers and the private sector, the government is trying to revitalize cotton production through increased farmer support and policy changes.

As per CZI, although the sector’s ginning capacity in the country is 750,000 metric tons, it operates at only 20 per cent, with most cotton exported as lint. Only 12,000 metric tons are processed locally, which is a significant loss for value addition and job creation, adds CZI.

Experts have expressed concern over the low level of lint processing, especially for an economy aiming for greater value addition.

Cotton production in Zimbabwe has declined since 2013 due to insufficient resources and farming support, leading to low yields. In 2015, production hit a low of 28,000 tons, prompting government intervention with the Presidential Input Scheme.

Last year, farmers produced only 13,000 tons of cotton, below the government's 42,000-ton projection, due to the El Niño drought.

In 2021, Zimbabwe's cotton to clothing exports grew by 132 per cent, earning $102.2 million. This growth was mainly driven by cotton lint and yarn exports, which increased to $85.7 million from $29.1 million the previous year.

This year, the country has increased the cotton planting area substantially expects a good harvest, states Professor Obert Jiri, Ministry of Agriculture.