Reviving the Kenyan Cotton Industry

Cotton farmers in the country as set to get certified cotton seeds that will be distributed to them by the state at subsidized rates.

This move is part of last year’s three year programme that was initiated with the aim of boosting the cotton industry in the country which has been facing a lot of challenges that led great losses.

As part of the recovery strategy, the Kenya seed company has got the green light to produce clean seeds so as to solve the problem that has been ailing the industry for many years. The industry wants to boost the production of cotton as well as revive the market share.

The seeds to be distributed to farmers have been harvested from the Bura irrigation scheme where cotton had been planted to some 2,000 hectares of land and thus more than 24 tonnes of cotton have been harvested.

The country is trying to ensure that quantity of cotton seeds are enough for use both locally and for export. The Kenya seed company had planted cotton seeds that are high yielding, fast maturing and that are disease resistant.

During the 2015/16 financial year, the government allocated Sh.2 billion through the ministry of industrialization and enterprise

The certified seeds will be distributed to more than 10,000 farmers across the country before the start of the long rains next year.

In the 1980’s, the cotton industry in Kenya sustained a well-functioning manufacturing sector which later collapsed due to the heavy weight that was caused by importation of second hand clothes. This left many people unemployed as the industry was not in a position to support the numbers while experiencing losses.

Out of about 52 cotton mills that used to operate producing 70,000bales, currently only 15 have remain operational. This shows how the industry needs urgent attention for it to get back to where it used to be as a leading export in the country.

Local textiles are normally exported to the international markets under the duty-free imports from low income countries under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) pact.

Article by Vera Shawiza.