IJISET - International Journal of Innovative Science, Engineering & Technology, Vol. 2, Issue 1, January 2015. www.ijiset.com ISSN 2348 – 7968 631 Cotton Production Under Contract System In Small Holder Farming Sector Of Zimbabwe Svotwa, E 1 and T. Mapfumo 2 1, 2. Department of Crop Science and Postharvest Technology, Chinhoyi University of Technology 2. Field Officer, Alliance Zimbabwe, Norton, Zimbabwe Abstract Contract farming has evolved in communal areas to ensure that the resource poor smallholder farmers are equipped to increase crop output per hectare. In this study cotton production under contract farming was assessed in Kanyaga Communal area of Mashonaland West Province in Zimbabwe through a survey. Fifty (50) smallholder farmers were randomly selected to participate in the survey. The survey sought to identify such aspects as assets that the farmers had, organisations that are involved in input provision, types of inputs and timing of provision of inputs, nature of technical support that was provided to the farmers as well as farmers’ perception of the cotton seed buyers. Farmers in the Kanyaga smallholder cotton producing area had various assets to assist them in cotton production. They receive inputs such as seed and chemicals. Seed cotton buyers offered technical support, which included training on marketing, agronomy, farm management and transport. The absence of assistance with operations such as tillage and funds for harvesting reduces the benefits of the interaction between the cottonseed buyers and the farmers. Cottonseed buyers should introduce a participatory approach in price determination as strategy of making the relationship with farmers sustainable. Key Words: contract farming smallholder farmer technical support participatory approach price determination Background Agriculture is the most important source of national income in Zimbabwe, contributing to approximately 20 % of the gross domestic product of the country [1]. Of all the cash crops that are grown in Zimbabwe, cotton ranks second to tobacco, averaging about 7 percent of Zimbabwe's total export earnings [2]. This sector is made up of a large number of small cotton farms along with a number of large, well-established commercial cotton farms. Production increases have come mostly from small-scale cotton producers, who have of late increased in numbers after the implementation of the land reform programme. Commercial cotton production began in the early 1920s. It was not until the mid 1960s that successful commercial cotton production began, after four decades of research in diseases, pest control and development of new varieties adaptable to Zimbabwe and even then, smallholder cotton production remained low until independence in 1980 [3]. At independence in 1980, the Zimbabwean government adopted supportive policies in research, extension, input, and credit provision to smallholder farmers. The Cotton Marketing Board of Zimbabwe spearheaded such efforts, and is credited for the expansion of cotton production in communal areas in the 1980s. Consequently, a smallholder ‘cotton revolution’ was experienced [4].