LUSAKA, Mar. 15, 2011 (Xinhua News Agency) -- The government of Zambia says it will consider the possibility of introducing genetically modified seeds in cotton production as part of efforts to enhance production which have been dwindling over the years, the Post of Zambia reported on Tuesday.
Zimbia's Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives Eustarckio Kazonga said the government will consult with stakeholders on the possibilities of enhancing cotton yields through genetically modified organisms.
The head of an agricultural research institution, the Golden Valley Agricultural Research Trust, recently said there is no justification for stopping genetically modified organisms in cotton production.
Stephen Muliokela said the government should seriously consider introducing genetically modified cotton seeds to boost yields.
Official data from the Cotton Association of Zambia indicates that cotton output dropped to 71,000 tons last year from over 106, 000 tons the year before. Cotton production reached its peak in the 2004-2005 farming season increasing by more than four times compared to the earlier seasons production of 42, 000 tons with export earnings hitting over 100 million U.S. dollars. The country posted its record high output of 198,000 tons in 2005.
Reduction production has been attributed to lower cotton prices on the international market, coupled with lack of access to
finances by farmers.
Meanwhile, an analyst has stated that Zambia has the potential to produce 250,000 tons of cotton in the medium term if only measures were put in place to mobilize small-scale farmers, according to the Post.
Menda Banda, a former lecturer at the University of Ghana, said to reach the tonnage, it would require the involvement of about 500,000 farmers in cotton production and that the government should ensure that the farmers have access to finances.
"The government should encourage farmers to get into cotton farming and this can only be done through them having access to funds. With the current world market prices averaging 2,500 dollars per ton, if we reached 250,000 tons cotton output, we would be earning about 625 million dollars," he was quoted as saying by the paper.