Government Distributes BT Cotton Seeds Worth Sh51M

The national government invested a whopping Sh50 million in the purchase of high-yield BT cotton seed to assist restart the cultivation of the crop and revitalize the sector’s dormant ginneries, giving cotton farmers in the Western and Nyanza regions reason to rejoice.

Speaking at Muluanda Ginnery in Samia sub-county, Busia during the launch of free BT cotton seed distribution to farmers in Busia, Principal Secretary Ministry of Agriculture Juma Mukhwana reiterated the government’s commitment to upscaling cotton farming in the country.

Mukhwana urged farmers to adopt cotton farming by promising them government support in the form of seedlings, discounted fertilizer, and the revival of the ginnery, which offers them a ready market.

However, cotton farmers from the Samia, Bunyala, Nambale, and Matayos Sub-Counties stated their wish for the two-tier governments to act and address the numerous issues that cotton growing in the region is currently facing, which have slowed down the resurrection.

The farmers claimed that the difficulties included, among others, bad pricing, expensive input costs, and obsolete legislation that is not in line with the 2010 Constitution.

“Farmers in Busia face a myriad of challenges in cotton production. The low cotton production is due to the lack of high-yielding cotton seeds of varieties that are tolerant to pests and diseases,” they said.

This comes as their Member of the National Assembly Oundo Mudenyo urged cotton farmers to fully and seriously begin BT cotton planting in order to make up for Busia County’s deficit in cotton production of more than 70,000 metric tonnes.

Mudenyo intends to address soil analysis and pest and disease identification, which have been key obstacles for farmers.

“We are in dire need of value addition facilities, infrastructure such as ginneries and other cotton processing facilities,” he said.

The county government has been tasked by the legislator to give agriculture extension officers top priority when hiring so they can provide farmers with education.

“Under the Government’s Agenda, cotton and textiles have been identified among the key drivers towards expansion of the manufacturing sector since it provides raw materials to our industries,” noted the MP.

Beatrice Nyamwamu, Acting Director General of the Agricultural and Food Authority (AFA), stated that they will see to it that farmers around the nation have access to the proper chemicals and seeds for growing cotton.

Cotton is one of the few cash crops that survive in the unstable ASAL regions where there are few other economic prospects, according to Nyamwamu, giving rural residents in ASAL areas with high poverty rates a source of income.

The director also mentioned that the farmers now have access to free pesticides and enough cotton-growing seeds through their cooperative groups.

The Busia County government has allocated Sh20 million to restructure cooperatives that are aiming to cultivate cotton on more than 3,000 acres of land.