Cyclone Freddy: Southern region cotton production written off
Authorities have almost written off cotton production in southern region after devastating floods swept away huge hectares of the crop.
This is the region which produces over half of the country’s output which includes Nsanje and Chikwawa, Balaka, Mwanza and Phalombe.
Chairperson of Cotton Council of Malawi (CCM) Duncan Warren has told Capital FM that the flooding waters were moving at a high speed leaving huge impact unlike in the past.
“I can very quickly inform you that as far as the shire-valley is concerned, we can almost write off that crop of cotton because those were not just standing floods those were running floods, which washed away crops and even buried crops so we can just say the crop in the area which produces almost half of the cotton in Malawi we can just write it off,” Warren said.
Prolonged drought in Karonga has also rendered the northern region district in red according to CCM, with Salima and some central region areas being the only hope.
“As for the crop in the north, Karonga has been experiencing drought, unfortunately the drought has been too severe and again we shall have a very small crop in Karonga.
“In the central region I am not too sure how the situation is in Salima but I expect that Salima, Bwanje and Mangochi should have a fairy decent crop,” He said.
Initially, cotton production was estimated at 35,000metric tonnes but currently, assessment is underway to come up with fresh projections.
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