US Government to Support Revival of Cotton Farming in Kenya

The United States government has unveiled a strategic initiative to collaborate with Kenyan counties in revitalizing cotton farming, aiming to maximize Kenya's benefits under the African Growth and Opportunities Act (AGOA).

This development was announced by US Ambassador Meg Whitman during her diplomatic visit to Elgeyo Marakwet Governor Wisley Rotich in Iten on Thursday. The primary objective is to address the critical cotton supply shortage that has been impeding American companies operating within Kenya's textile sector. In her address, Ambassador Whitman emphasizes that while AGOA permits duty-free access for textile products to the US market, the insufficient domestic cotton supply has forced companies to rely on imports from distant markets, including China and other African nations. This dependence has resulted in prolonged procurement times and elevated costs.

To remedy this situation, the US government intends to distribute BT and hybrid cotton seeds to farmers across several counties, thereby establishing a reliable cotton supply chain for the industry. The initiative extends beyond seed distribution to include the rehabilitation of ageing cotton gins, essential for producing cotton fabric for manufacturing facilities. This comprehensive approach has already shown promise through parallel success in pyrethrum farming, where collaboration between the county and the US government, facilitated by the Kentegra company, has engaged nearly 30,000 farmers.

The program's direct-to-farmer model eliminates intermediaries, ensuring fair compensation for agricultural producers. Governor Rotich acknowledges the significant impact of US partnerships across various sectors, particularly in healthcare and agriculture. He specifically highlights the Ampath programme's eleven-year presence in the county, which has been instrumental in combating HIV-AIDS while providing comprehensive healthcare services, including preventive care and chronic disease management.

AGOA's role in Kenya's economic development has been substantial, particularly in the textile and apparel sector where monthly exports reached Sh4.5 billion in the previous year. The act provides eligible Sub-Saharan African nations with preferential access to US markets, though the full potential of these benefits has been constrained by insufficient local cotton production. The introduction of advanced seed varieties through this new initiative promises to enhance yield and pest resistance, potentially transforming the productivity of cotton farming in Kenya.