The Cotton Industry in Kenya: Problems, Prospects, and Revival Strategies

Abstract

Cotton is presently grown in twenty-two counties in Kenya spread across Central, Coast, Eastern, Nyanza, Rift Valley, and Western regions. Cotton production has been well below potential in recent years due to various constraints, including the non-availability of quality seeds and inappropriate production technologies, especially for smallholder farming, lack of access to credit, high cost of farm inputs, among other constraints. For the cotton industry to be revived, various strategies have to be put in place, including establishing efficient rural finance and credit supply system for smallholders and rural primary agro-processors; ensuring policies, institutional and legal frameworks are investor-friendly; facilitating long term investments in farm improvement technologies; and improving governance of co-operative sector by empowering farmers and farmer groups. This study is based on the principle that policy, institutional and economic content is the base upon which some of the problems in the cotton industry could be addressed in order to arrive at prospects essential in de-limiting the challenges. This will impact cotton industry revival and translate into increased incomes, thereby enhancing food security in cotton-growing areas. Primary data was obtained through field survey using questionnaires and interviews by stratified random sampling method in cotton-growing zones. Secondary data from various sources (KALRO, CODA, & MOA reports) was looked at, compared, and analysed using descriptive and qualitative methods to come up with prospects and strategies for solving production and marketing problems. The qualitative data analysed showed that the cotton industry face problems such as: lack of access to quality seeds; high cost of inputs; competition with other farm enterprises over scarce resources; and collapse of irrigation schemes and ginneries. The prospects suggested include acquisition of new seed varieties, increased employment in cotton industry, and improved economy as well as reduced poverty. The revival strategies included: maximization of African Growth Opportunity Act initiative by United States government that was extended from 2015 to 2025 to make local farmers benefit more; implementing the cotton bill and enforce cotton regulations; expanding cotton acreage/yield; and empowering cotton associations such as KCGA/HAWESA. It was concluded that there was need to address outlaid problems; avail resources for acquisition of quality seed, purchase of farm inputs and rehabilitation of collapsed irrigation schemes and ginneries; and invest in the cotton industry by the government, private sector, and the international community for cotton industry revival. Keywords: Cotton, problems, prospects, revival strategies