Stakeholders in the cotton industry from Busia and Siaya counties have called for the establishment of cotton seed manufacturing plants across the country to curb the recurring crisis of seed shortages and delayed distribution.
They said the plants will help in the development of new seed varieties as well as ensure sustainability, timely planting and national textile competitiveness.
Speaking when a Thika based textile industry, Thika Cloth Mills in partnership with the national government distributed over 30 tons of cotton seeds to farmers, they said local seed manufacturing plant will rejuvenate farming of the crop and reduce the challenges farmers face when accessing seeds.
In Busia, the farmers welcomed the distribution of the seeds saying it will align with their planting season set for June while those in Siaya expressed concerns that the delays will affect production.
“We appreciate the government and Thika Cloth Mills for this gesture, but the long-term solution lies in establishing local seed production centres. The delays we face every season only discourage potential cotton growers, “said Milly Odemba, a Siaya-based farmer.
Thika Cloth Mills Cotton Development Manager, Hesmond Olwenyi while echoing the farmers’ sentiments called on the government to empower institutions like the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO) to start cotton seed manufacturing.
“Most cotton-growing countries produce their own seeds, which makes them affordable and readily available. We’ve spent a lot purchasing BT seeds for farmers, yet the returns have been negligible,” said Olwenyi.
He said the new seed variety sourced from Cameroon is well-suited for Kenya’s climate and urged farmers to take advantage of the ongoing rains for planting.
In Siaya, the County Director of Agriculture Isaac Munyendo announced the county’s ambitious plan to cultivate 50,000 acres of cotton this year, up from last year’s 26,000 acres.
He however raised concerns over the seed shortage which he said could slow down their targeted production.
“We remain optimistic that with interventions from such companies like Thika Cloths Mills working closely with both the national and county governments, there is a growing momentum to revive this sector,” said Munyendo.
Farmers led by Milcent Akinyi and Simon Ondolo from Rarieda emphasized the need for policy consistency and serious investment in the cotton value chain, recalling a time when cotton ranked second only to coffee in national importance.
“People are willing to grow cotton again, but without consistent access to affordable seeds, our efforts will fall short,” said Akinyi.
The company has over the years enjoyed government’s empowerment by being given tenders to supply uniform for the disciplined forces. It has also been supporting farmers through distribution of free seeds, other farm inputs and buying the cotton from farmers at reasonable prices.
By Muoki Charles
