Plizio Visual Lab

Kadoma Cotton Region

Plizio editorial teamUpdated: Jun 2026Data Sources

Agriculture

Weather…

The Kadoma Cotton Region is located in the Mashonaland West province and is considered the heart of Zimbabwe's textile industry. Due to moderate rainfall and high average temperatures, the area gives optimal conditions for cultivating high-quality cotton. Historically established as the 'City of Gold,' the economic focus shifted heavily toward agriculture and industrial processing during the 20th century. Kadoma houses significant ginneries and spinning mills that prepare raw cotton for both national and international markets. The region supports thousands of small-scale farmers integrated into the value chain through cooperative systems. Besides cotton, maize and tobacco are also grown in crop rotations to maintain soil fertility. The city's infrastructure is closely linked to the railway network, enabling efficient transport of textile bales. Constant research into pest-resistant varieties ensures the competitiveness of local production on a global scale.

Location: Zimbabwe
Nearby: Chakari (23 km)

Best time to visit & climate

The most pleasant time to visit is Apr, Aug, Sep.

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Avg °C	23	23	22	21	18	16	16	19	23	25	25	24
Rain mm	158	135	86	28	4	2	1	0	3	23	85	185

📋 Practical info

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What is this place?

Kadoma Cotton Region is the hub for cotton processing and agriculture in Zimbabwe. It supplies raw materials to the country's textile industry and generates employment in rural areas.

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Visiting

Cotton fields are usually visible from public roads, but processing plants are often not open to visitors. Driving through the region has good insights into the growing process.

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Where to view it

A handy viewpoint is the hill along the Kadoma-Gweru road, offering expansive views over the cotton fields. The lookout hill near Kadoma Dam also provides a panoramic perspective.

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Local products

The main product is cotton, pressed into bales. Maize, tobacco, and sunflower seeds are also grown in the region and offered at local markets.

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Active season

The main cotton harvest season runs from April to June. During this time, the fields are white and processing plants operate at full capacity.

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Nearby

Explore Kadoma Dam and the surrounding wildlife reserve for game viewing. A visit to Kadoma town with its markets and the historic railway bridge is also worthwhile.

Geography

Coordinates

-18.30000, 29.90000

Facts

Kadoma was officially established as a settlement in 1907 under the name Gatooma.
The city hosts Zimbabwe's national Cotton Research Institute.
The cotton harvesting season in this region typically occurs between May and August.
Kadoma is located on the main road and railway line connecting Harare and Bulawayo.
Tens of thousands of tonnes of cottonseed are processed in the region annually.
The climate is semi-arid with an average annual temperature of approximately 21 degrees Celsius.