This archive report was first published on 22 April 2020.
Revival of Cotton Industry in Kerio Valley ¶
April is a crucial month for cotton farmers in Kerio Valley, Baringo County. It's the time they plant the crop that was once the backbone of the local economy. Mzee Julius Chelagat, a retired field officer with Salawa ginneries, remembers the 80's and 90's when cotton growing was the main cash crop.
Chelagat narrated how he used to straddle the entire region, ensuring that farmers received their dues every two weeks after delivery to the ginnery. The ginnery would supply farmers with pesticides, fertiliser, and certified seeds on loan, which would be deducted during payment.
“Farmers used to sell their cotton at sh.6 per kilogram, which was a lot of money by then,” Chelagat said. They used the money earned from cotton to buy livestock, take their children to school, and meet all other financial needs.
However, all this changed between 1998-2002 when cotton farming collapsed due to a combination of factors, including fluctuating world market prices and conflicts over cattle rustling. The collapse led to locals seeking refuge in the highlands, resulting in the total collapse of cotton farming.
But with the recent approval of commercial farming of BT cotton by the government, things are looking up in the area. The signing of an MOU between the county and the Moi University-owned Rivatex has revived the industry, with the factory set to provide a guaranteed market for farmers.
According to Prof. Thomas Kipkurgat, the managing director of Rivatex, the factory is currently producing 10,000 bales against a capacity of 70,000 bales annually. Simon Kwambai, a cotton farmer, says the area is getting prepared for what lies ahead, with farmers in the process of forming a cooperative society to ensure they reap maximum benefit from the crop.
“With a cooperative society, we will deal directly with the buyers and thus eliminate middlemen who may come up once the production increases,” Kwambai said. They already know the benefits of the new variety of BT cotton, which will lower the cost of production and increase production.
One of the major challenges faced by most farmers is the high cost of chemicals used to control stem borer and other pests attacking the crop. Mzee Kwambai says they usually plant in April and harvest in August, but if they had enough water through irrigation, they would be planting more than once a year.
“We are now appealing to both levels of government to embark on the construction of dams to ensure we have enough water for planting throughout the year,” Kwambai said. The delay of the rains last year during planting led to losses, with farmers ending up getting 16 bags from one acre instead of the recommended 20-25 of 40kgs each.
The announcement by the government to start the distribution of the certified BT cotton seeds couldn't have come at a better time for farmers in the area. The two old men are even willing to provide their farms as demonstration plots for other farmers to learn.
Having been cotton farmers when the crop flourished, they understand too well the economic benefits that can accrue from its production. The Arror ward agricultural officer, Isaac Macharia, says the sector will go a long way in alleviating the problem of unemployment, offering employment to many people in its value chain.
By Alice Wanjiru
