TCB turns down suggestion to abolish contract farming

05 Nov '12

2 min read

A suggestion extended by some of the Lake Zone based cotton industry stakeholders to abolish the newly introduced contract farming in Tanzania, has been turned down by the Tanzanian Cotton Board (TCB).

Claiming that they were facing several difficulties with the new contract farming system, the representatives of Tanzania Cotton Association (TCA) and cotton business people (TACOGA), are seeking an immediate suspension of contract farming.

Speaking at a cotton stakeholder’s consultative meeting, TCB Chairman Festus Limbu said the proposal to scrap contract farming in cotton was not feasible.

He said the idea is impractical and a brain-child of just a handful of people, and it does not represent the opinion of the entire cotton growers’ community of the region.

He said contract farming has benefited both the Government and the cotton cultivators and it is not possible to end it at present, just because it is facing some challenges.

He added that the Government is trying to resolve most of the issues faced by cotton growers with help of some of the leading industry players.

TCB Director Macro Mtunga said some of the private firms, which formally inked deals to supply seeds and other agricultural equipments to farmers, at times fail to honour their commitment which causes the farmers to suffer.

Besides representatives from cotton cultivating regions, Regional and District Commissioners and other local authorities also attended the meeting.

Most of the attendees at the meeting were of the view that contract farming in cotton should be strengthened and efforts should be made to resolve the challenges faced by cotton farmers.

Fibre2fashion News Desk - India

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