Cotton farmers from Western and Nyanza areas have a cause to smile after the nationwide authorities injected a whooping Sh50 million into buying of excessive yield BT cotton seed to assist revive farming of the crop thus reviving the sleeping ginneries within the sector.
Talking at Muluanda Ginnery in Samia sub county, Busia County through the launch of free BT cotton seed distribution to farmers in Busia, Principal Secretary Ministry of Agriculture Dr Juma Mukhwana reiterated the federal government’s dedication to upscaling cotton farming within the nation.
Dr. Mukhwana challenged farmers to embrace cotton farming, assuring them of presidency’s help via provision of seedlings, sponsored fertilizers and reviving of the ginnery which offer a prepared marketplace for farmers.
Nevertheless, cotton farmers from Samia, Bunyala, Nambale and Matayos Sub-Counties expressed their want for the 2 tier governments to intervene and deal with the myriad of challenges going through cotton farming within the space which have derailed progress within the revival.
The farmers stated the challenges ranged from outdated laws that doesn’t conform to the 2010 Structure, poor pricing and exorbitant value of inputs amongst others.
”Farmers in Busia face a myriad of challenges in cotton manufacturing. The low cotton manufacturing is because of the lack of high-yielding cotton seeds varieties which are tolerant to pests and ailments,” they stated.
This comes whilst their Member of Nationwide Meeting Dr Oundo Mudenyo challenged cotton farmers to reap the benefits of authorities provisions and embark totally and severely on BT cotton farming as Busia County faces a deficit cotton manufacturing of greater than 70,000 metric tonnes of the product.
Dr. Mudenyo needs soil evaluation and prognosis of pests and ailments which have been a significant problem to farmers to be addressed.
“We’re in dire want of worth addition services, infrastructure akin to ginneries and different cotton processing services,” he stated.
The legislator has challenged the county authorities to prioritize employment of agriculture extension officers to supply training to farmers.
“Underneath the Authorities’s Agenda, cotton and textiles have been recognized among the many key drivers in direction of enlargement of the manufacturing sector because it offers uncooked supplies to our industries,” famous the MP.
Appearing Director Common of the Agriculture and Meals Authority (AFA) Beatrice Nyamwamu stated they’d be certain that the farmers get the precise seeds and chemical substances for the rising of cotton throughout the nation.
“Cotton is among the many few money crops that thrive effectively within the fragile ASAL areas the place few different financial alternatives exist, therefore offering a supply of livelihood to rural communities in ASAL areas the place poverty ranges are excessive,” stated Nyamwamu.
The director added that the farmers now have sufficient seeds to develop cotton and chemical substances distributed freely to them via their cooperative societies.
The County authorities of Busia has put aside Sh 20 million to revamp cooperatives concentrating on over 3,000 acres of land for cotton manufacturing.
By Absalom Namwalo
Supply: kenyanews