The Agriculture and Food Authority (AFA) has partnered with Thika-based cotton industry, Thika Cloth Mills, to distribute Bt cotton seeds worth Ksh400 million to farmers in seven counties. The counties targeted are Embu, Tharaka Nithi, Meru, Kirinyaga, Machakos, Makueni, and Kitui. This initiative aims to boost production ahead of the El Niño rains and increase farmers' earnings.
Farmers in the region have welcomed the free seeds, saying the initiative would significantly lower production costs and encourage more growers to return to cotton farming. Previously, a kilogramme of Bt cotton seeds cost about Sh4,000, making it unaffordable for many small-scale farmers. This partnership is expected to revive the country's cotton and textile industry.
Thika Cloth Mills Chief Executive Officer Tejal Dhodhia stated that the country's cotton revival had reached an encouraging turning point. She recalled that the company previously relied on imports from Uganda and Tanzania to sustain its textile manufacturing operations. The renewed interest in cotton farming is attributed to intensified Buy Kenya, Build Kenya campaigns since 2016 and the government's decision to raise the purchase price from Sh52 to Sh72 per kilogramme.
Dhodhia emphasized that focus should now be on linking farmers to domestic textile manufacturers to create a sustainable value chain, from the farm to the factory, while generating jobs for thousands of Kenyans. Embu Governor Cecily Mbarire welcomed the partnership between the national government and private investors, urging farmers in Mbeere South and other cotton-growing areas to seize the opportunity presented by free quality seeds and a guaranteed market.
Governor Mbarire pledged that her administration would partner with the national government and local investors to empower farmers, strengthen agricultural production, and improve rural livelihoods. She encouraged farmers to take advantage of the anticipated rains and government support, noting that the revival of cotton farming could become an important driver of economic growth in the region.
The distribution of Bt cotton seeds is expected to have a positive impact on the lives of farmers and the economy of the region. With the support of the government and private investors, farmers are optimistic about increasing their production and earnings. The partnership between the government and Thika Cloth Mills is a significant step towards reviving the country's cotton and textile industry.
The initiative is also expected to create jobs and stimulate economic growth in the region. With the cotton industry's revival, Kenyans can look forward to increased economic opportunities and improved livelihoods. The government's efforts to support farmers and the textile industry are a welcome move, and the impact of this partnership will be closely watched.
Key points
- The partnership between the government and Thika Cloth Mills aims to distribute Bt cotton seeds worth Ksh400 million to farmers in seven counties.
- The initiative is expected to boost production ahead of the El Niño rains and increase farmers' earnings.
- The revival of cotton farming is attributed to intensified Buy Kenya, Build Kenya campaigns and the government's decision to raise the purchase price of cotton.
