Lubao FM News 
The Ministry of Agriculture and Ministry of Trade and Industrialisation have allocated 17 tons of cotton seed for distribution to farmers in Busia County as part of efforts to revive the Kenyan textile industry. This initiative aims to provide enough raw material for the textile sector.
During the launch of the seed distribution at Busia Agricultural Training Centre, the State Department for Industrialisation Principal Secretary, Juma Mukhwana, announced that the seeds, valued at Sh45 million, could cover 13,000 acres of land, compared to the 8,000 acres planted last year. The government had previously only grown 5,000 acres of cotton until 2022, but increased it to 40,000 acres last year.
To further support cotton production, the government has imported 50 tons of cotton seed from Togo and expects an additional 200 tons from Benin by April. The aim is to reach 300,000 acres across the country in the next two years, with 24 counties identified as suitable for cotton production.
Additionally, the price of cotton has been increased from Sh52 to Sh72 per kilogram to incentivize farmers. Four new ginneries are being constructed in various counties to support cotton processing.
Busia County’s Agriculture Executive Committee Member, George Mukok, encouraged farmers to make good use of the seeds, which will be distributed free of charge. The County plans to expand cotton production following a successful pilot program last year, where over 5,000 acres of cotton were grown. The County has also partnered with Rivatex to sell cotton at a higher price to farmers.
Overall, the government is working to address the challenges facing the cotton industry by providing seeds, promoting mechanization, and helping farmers access markets efficiently.
