The
government is fast-tracking far-reaching measures to revive cotton crop in 24
counties. Under a comprehensive plan, the government aims to increase current
production and quality, improve processing efficiency and promote marketing and
expansion of trade.Strengthening sustainable research and development of new
cotton varieties, promoting strong partnerships with institutions and
developing and enforcing a regulatory framework including quality standards are
other strategies to be pursued.
The strategies are contained in a Cotton Comprehensive Plan the government has
developed to resuscitate the sub-sector in the next five years. Fibre crops
directorate interim head Anthony Muriithi says government’s plan is mobilise
all the sub-sector stakeholders with a view to achieving an integrated value
chain.Muriithi explained that the strategies will help in restoring glorious
moments the sub-sector enjoyed in 1970s and 1980s. “In the medium term our aim
is to increase production area to 100,000 hectares from the current 29,000
mainly in the arid and semi-arid areas under rain fed conditions,” he said.
Muriithi said that while it would be preferable to increase cotton production
under irrigation, this may not be feasible due to competition from high value
crops, adding: “Cotton will therefore be introduced in irrigation schemes as a
cycle crop.”In addition, intercropping will be promoted using non-climbing
legumes. “We are hopeful the initiatives being pushed by the government will
help in restoring glorious moments of 1970s and 1980s,” he said.
Esther Kaloe, a small-scale farmer in Kitui County, however, said cotton
growers are grappling with high cost of chemicals, pests, lack of improved
seeds, low finances, scarce water and manipulation by middlemen and thus not
able to expand cotton farming.“The government needs to subsidise supply of
chemicals and sink more boreholes and construct water dams to enable farmers
irrigate more land,” she . Kaloe has already intercropped her cotton with green
grams, cowpeas and beans to supplement cotton proceeds and enhance food
security.
Cotton
was introduced in Kenya by the British East Africa Corporation (BEAC) Ltd which
was established in 1906 with the aim of spreading the work of British Cotton
Growing Association.The association was designed by the colonial government to
encourage cotton growing in the British Empire and to establish cotton ginning
factories and plantations. Equally, Indians who were constructing the
Kenya-Uganda railway metre gauge railway line also introduced the crop in areas
along the railway line.
The cotton sub-sector is enjoying renewed interest from development partners
who are keen to invest in Kenya’s textile industry a move trade analysts said
will assist Kenya to expand her share in the international market, for example,
USA, Brazil, India, Turkey and China, among others.Government to ensure high
production has been achieved plans to strengthen farmer organisations and
cluster them into seven clusters -Upper Eastern, Lower Eastern, Bura Hola,
Coast (Lamu, Kilifi and Kwale), Taita Taveta, Rift Valley and Lake Region
(Western and Nyanza).
“The
clusters which will be formed by strong county co-operatives will be the points
of input acquisition, marketing and value addition and thus help in taming cost
of production,” Muriithi added. Each cluster will own cotton stores, modern
ginnery, model farms and appropriate machinery and equipment.
While farmers in each cluster will be able to enjoy benefits
of economies of scale, increased use of recommended inputs and ease of
application of a targeted support programme including best agronomic practices.
For farmers to achieve high production to meet the local demand, Muriithi said
the national government and county governments will commercialise high-yielding
cotton varieties and establish a certified seed system.
Source: Business Report, South Africa Friday, 12 January 2018