MENAFN) Zimbabwe's cotton production in the 2018 marketing season has increased by 76 percent year-on-year to 130,000 tons, from 70,000 tons in 2017, owing to increased government support to farmers.

The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe expects the country to get around USD85 million in foreign exchange through cotton exports this year.

A local online publication said: "Owing to steep increase in production, cotton exports are expected to jump."

Under a "Presidential Inputs Scheme," the government launched various free support initiatives to help farmers increase cotton production.