Sofala province, one of the country's main cotton producers, has seen a sharp drop in production of this commodity, ending the 2023/24 season with one of the worst yields in recent history.

According to figures released last week during a session of the State Representation Council for this province, production was just 55 tons, equivalent to five percent of the 1,070 tons that had been set as a target.

According to official information quoted by Terra MagazineThe El Niño phenomenon, which particularly affected the districts of Chemba, Marínguè, Caia, Gorongosa, Nhamatanda, Búzi, Chibabava and Machanga, the main cotton-growing regions in Sofala, combined with the poor performance of the company Mandorla Investimentos Lda, the main player in promoting the cultivation of this crop, were the main factors behind the fall in production.

In terms of the area under cultivation of the so-called white gold, the province had planned 1,605 hectares, but 222 hectares were used, which, all told, means that the yield was only four tons per hectare.