Private sector participation needed in Swazi cotton industry

10 Aug '11

2 min read

Swaziland needs full participation of private sector in the country's cotton industry, Clement Dlamini, Minister of Agriculture, said while speaking on the occasion of the Cotton Day celebrations at Matata.

The Minister said that it is a challenge for cotton cultivators to be able to meet the demand of textile companies in the country. He said that there is an urgent need for private sector participation to enhance the productivity of cotton.

Urging the private sector to develop a spirit of partnership, the Minister clarified that the Government's role is to facilitate business development and it intends to provide a proper role to the private sector. He added that the private sector assistance is essential for cotton cultivators to enable them to have access to farm inputs.

He stated that the private sector can act as a link between cotton growers and financial institutions. For this purpose, it is essential that the ginnery belongs to the key stakeholders, who can then act as a guarantor on behalf of the farmers and can facilitate the recovery of costs with their permission, he added.

He further stressed on the need for forming farmers' groups, which can help them in several ways, including acquiring inputs, access to information while growing cotton, and access to market. He suggested that the group of cotton farmers should have affiliation to the Swaziland National Agricultural Union (SNAU), which will quicken the pace of resolving their grievances.

Fibre2fashion News Desk - India

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