The Director of the Tanzania Cotton Board, Marco Mtunga, has called for major reforms in the cooperative system, warning that inefficiencies continue to hold back productivity in the country’s cotton sector.
Speaking during a stakeholders’ meeting in Dodoma, Mtunga pointed to persistent challenges, including poor distribution of farm inputs, misuse of weighing scales, and weak quality control during cotton marketing.
He said these issues are worsened by limited authority granted to cooperative leaders to enforce regulations.
“The system needs strengthening to ensure accountability and efficiency across the entire value chain,” he stressed.
Mtunga outlined several government interventions aimed at boosting production. These include the procurement of 60 agricultural drones to support large-scale farmers.
The drones can spray one acre in just 10 minutes, improving pest control and reducing labour costs. In addition, 16 self-propelled spraying machines have been introduced, each capable of covering one acre in less than three minutes.
He also revealed plans to establish an organic fertilizer production plant to improve soil fertility and increase yields, alongside a seed processing plant that will reduce seed usage by 50 percent through acid-delinting technology.
The technology removes low-quality seeds and promotes more efficient planting methods.
Mtunga described the Cotton Development Fund as the backbone of the sector, supporting key activities such as the supply of seeds, pesticides, spraying equipment, research, extension services, and investment in machinery. However, he noted that the fund is currently under financial strain.
“Floods during the 2023/2024 season and drought in 2024/2025 pushed expenditures beyond revenue, leaving the fund with a debt of TZS 206 billion,” he said.
Meanwhile, Anamringi Macha, Regional Commissioner for Simiyu Region, said his region leads in cotton production nationwide, earning him the opportunity to represent cotton-growing regions at the meeting.
He thanked Samia Suluhu Hassan for continued government support, including subsidized farm inputs and machinery.
He noted that nearly 300 tractors supplied by the government have helped improve farming efficiency.
Macha emphasized the need to strengthen extension services to ensure farmers achieve higher yields, saying productivity not just acreage should now be the focus.
He also highlighted price instability as a key concern, despite success stories from farmers who have achieved high yields and incomes under improved conditions.
On his part, Getere Mwita proposed the adoption of contract farming to guarantee farmers a reliable market and better prices.
He said such arrangements would encourage farmers to invest more in production, knowing they have assured buyers.
Mwita further stressed the importance of enforcing proper agronomic practices to improve both the quantity and quality of cotton produced.
The meeting, held under the theme “Collective Strength for a Sustainable Cotton Industry,” brought together key stakeholders to explore solutions aimed at strengthening collaboration and unlocking the sector’s full potential.
