Cotton Output to Double in Tanzania by 2025

The higher prices set forth by the Ministry of Agriculture in Tanzania on fiber has made local farmers to increase the cultivation and production of cotton.

The country expects the 2020-2021 farming season to lead to an increase in the cotton output by approximately 100,000 metric tons. The 2019-2020 season brought forth 348,882 metric tons.

In an email statement to members of the press mid last month, the local minister for agriculture Japhet Hasunga noted that the government’s goal to realize a 1 million metric ton worth of cotton produce by 2024-2025.

The crop which is the country’s fourth most profitable cash crop contributed slightly above $68 million to its economy in 2018. The East African state also received slightly lower than $100 million in export earnings from Cotton.

Tanzanian government has already initiated a number of farming projects which encourage citizens to grow top cash crops including cashew nuts, tobacco and coffee. The country will double their earnings from cotton should they double the output of the commodity in 5 years.

Amid the corona virus pandemic, the nation led by President Magufuli continues with their economic activities as it would have been under normal circumstances.

Announcing the country’s achievement of a middle economy status early this year, President Magufuli noted that the government is keen on ensuring that it glorifies hard work. He has been quoted in various speeches thwarting alerts given by other countries against Tanzania.

A number of nations including Kenya have had to issue travel advisories to their citizens who would wish to travel to Tanzania for personal or business purposes due to President Magufuli’s stand on the fight against the highly spreading virus.

In a retaliatory attitude, the Tanzanian government is continuing to call onto their citizens especially farmers to increase their produce and sell to foreigners who will come looking at a very high cost. Most farmers are currently receiving subsidized farm inputs to ensure that they drive their government’s agenda.