This archive report was first published on 8 July 2020.
On July 8, 2020, the government of Kenya legalized the commercial cultivation of BT cotton, a high-yielding and disease-resistant variety.
As a result, about 1000 farmers in Kirinyaga County are now ready to plant BT cotton within the Mwea area.
However, the COVID-19 pandemic has delayed the process, and the farmers are waiting for the elimination of the virus and the end of the current lockdown.
Frederick Muasya, a farmer at Ikurungu village, has three acres of land set aside for the new cotton variety.
He has already harvested 500 kilograms of cotton from the Hart 89 M variety, while his traditional variety is yet to reach the flowering stage.
Muasya is urging the government to put stringent measures in place and have a well-structured marketing policy for the crop to ensure a fair price for the farmers.
Another farmer, Jessie Mbugi, has called for the re-opening of the dormant Mwea Cotton Ginnery to reduce transportation costs and ensure that the farmers get a fair price for their crop.
According to Patrick Muriuki, the Managing Director of ICOSED, the 1000 earmarked farmers have been adequately prepared to grow the BT cotton variety.
He said that his organization has been holding workshops and field days to equip the farmers with the skills required to start growing the BT cotton.
Dr. Charles Waturu, a lead crop scientist and researcher, first put the BT cotton variety on field trials at Kimbimbi area in Mwea.
The crop was launched for commercial farming early this year by the Agriculture CS Peter Munya in Western Kenya.
By Irungu Mwangi
