The drive to revive cotton farming in the country has received a major boost after the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Organization (KALRO) rolled out a cotton seed production drive.
The initiative targets to avail 40,000 metric tonnes of cotton seeds to farmers at subsidized prices as efforts to revive the crop gain momentum.
KALRO seeds Director Robert Musyoki said production was underway on 17 acres at Kibos in Kisumu county with an additional 20 acres planned to bolster the seed production drive.
This, he said was enough to meet the demand for cotton seeds across the country ahead of the planting season in January.
The seeds to be distributed through the research body’s centers, Mkulima shops, and selected agrovets, he said would give impetus to the drive to revive the crop.
KALRO, he said has developed high-quality certified seeds through years of extensive research adding that the availability of the seeds to farmers was a milestone in regenerating interest in cotton farming.
Speaking at Kibos KALRO center in Kisumu, Musyoki said the cotton varieties championed by KALRO were fit for growing in the western region and other cotton growing areas calling on farmers to take advantage of the initiative and plant the crop.
“We have taken the lead to produce cotton seeds for farmers not just in this region but in the whole country. The production is ongoing at our farms and we expect to produce 40,000 tonnes which is adequate for farmers across the country,” he said.
The Kibos centre, which initially was in charge of cotton research, he added has a number of varieties with KSA 81 variety proving to do well in the region.
“This region has good soils and favourable climatic conditions for the crop. That is why KALRO is taking the lead to ensure that farmers have access to high-quality seeds,” he said.
The seeds, he said would be sold to farmers at favourable prices to ensure that as many farmers as possible benefit.
“As a government agency, we are simply playing our role to develop the crop. We are not producing the seeds for profit but to benefit the farmers. The price is just meant to recover the production costs,” he said.
The initiative by KALRO, is expected to augment efforts by the State Department for Crops, Ministry of Investments Trade and Industry, and various players in the sector who have gone all out to help revive the crop.
The counties targeted in the Western region are Homa Bay, Siaya, Kisumu, Migori, Busia, Bungoma, Kajiado, Elgeyo Marakwet, and Turkana.
In the Eastern region Embu, Isiolo, Kiambu, Kilifi, Kirinyaga, Kitui, Kwale, Lamu, Makueni, Meru, Murang’a, Tana River, and Taita Taveta have been targeted.
According to the Agriculture and Food Authority (AFA), Cotton production in the country declined from a peak of 70,000 bales per year in 1986 to about 5, 500 bales per year in 2019.
While the domestic market demand for cotton stands at 140,000 bales, the country has the potential to produce up to 368,000 bales of lint annually.
By Chris Mahandara
