Malawi leader Bingu wa Mutharika is putting in efforts to expand cotton production and make cotton the main forex earner of the country in place of tobacco.
The crop's production has declined as farmers get low prices at the market, said agriculture expert. Station Manager for Makoka Agricultural Research Station Charles Kisyombe said that the backbone of Malawi's economy was agriculture and low prices will hurt farmers as they put in a lot of labor, pesticides and money, said Kisyombe. He asked scientists to evolve new technologies to increase productivity and help farmers to get better returns for their efforts. The farmers get less than 20 cents per kilogram for cotton in the local market. Northern Malawi's Karonga district grows cotton in abundance but farmers are abandoning the crop for maize as it gives good returns in the market.
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