The Parliamentary Committee on Agriculture has described the cotton industry as key to Malawi’s economic growth, saying it has the potential to raise household incomes and increase foreign exchange earnings if existing challenges are addressed.

Vice Chairperson of the committee, Chikondi Kampachike Chisale, made the remarks on Saturday during a field visit to Salima, where the committee engaged farmers alongside the Cotton Council of Malawi.

Chisale said access to quality seed remains one of the biggest concerns raised by farmers, with many struggling to find seed on time and at affordable prices. He, however, noted that the committee was encouraged by the progress recorded by some growers.

“The committee has taken note of the concerns raised and we pledge to prioritise them, including addressing policy gaps through Parliament,” said Chisale.

Executive Director of the Cotton Council of Malawi, Cosmas Luwanda, said although stakeholders are working to revive the sector, policy and operational challenges continue to slow progress. He stressed the need for closer collaboration between government and Parliament to ensure farmers grow cotton more profitably and at scale.

Head of Programmes at the African Institute of Corporate Citizenship (AICC), Henry Mlinde, said Malawi must begin producing its own cotton seed to reduce reliance on imports. He warned that continued dependence on hybrid seed from India has left the country vulnerable to supply disruptions.

Meanwhile, one of the farmers, Robert Phiri, said low cotton prices are discouraging growers, as many are failing to make meaningful profits.

“We feel that government support towards cotton production is inadequate, and this is limiting growth of the sector,” he said.

The challenges come at a time when the number of cotton farmers in Salima District has sharply declined to 418 this year, down from 1,297 last year.

(Written By: Phabuli Fegson)