By the 2018/19 season, there were 80 000 smallholder farmers that cultivated cotton as compared to the 300 000 growers in 2012/13 season, as shown by the 2019 AICC Cotton Market Analysis Report, which has attributed the lowered numbers to reduced harvests and area dedicated to cotton.

The report shows that despite having potential to accelerate economic growth and development, the commodity faces a myriad challenges which undermine its potential contribution.

“Among the patent issues surrounding the cotton value chain are issues to do with cotton production characterised by poor access to marketing services and information, fluctuating prices and most recently low demand and supply” says part of the report.

On the other hand, International Cotton Advisery Committee (Icac) Executive Director, Kai Hudges, alerted stakeholders that Malawi is the world’s lowest cotton grower. The announcement has come as cotton is considered to be one of the cash crops in the country.

Kai Hughes, visited Malawi to observe the current cotton industry in the country and meet stakeholders and policymakers in the sector on ways of improving its share to the national economy. He advised that Malawi should join Icac to earn more profits from the crop, as cotton production in the country has been dwindling from 100, 000 metric tonnes in 2011\12 to about 10,000 metric tonnes in 2016/17, the sector operates at less than 10% of its potential capacity at all value chain stages.