One-stop cotton shop

Article - September 28, 2011

Cotton is one of the few cash crops that thrives well in the fragile arid and semi-arid lands of Kenya, comprising some 80 per cent of the total land. It is a major potential source of employment, income generation and food security.

Under Vision 2030 and the Medium-Term Plan 2008-2013, the Government has targeted the cotton industry for investment and development. Although 350,000 hectares are suitable for rain-fed crop production, only 36,000 hectares are currently under cotton production, with an average of 25,000 MT of seed cotton annually. Under the Government’s plans, cotton production is due to grow to 60,000 MT by 2012.

The Cotton Development Authority, which was established in 2006 to promote, coordinate, regulate and direct Kenya’s cotton industry, serves as a ‘one-stop shop’ for investors, buyers and other development partners.

Investors are attracted to the country owing to its competitive investment climate, educated workforce, high demand for cotton, and potential for a vertically integrated textile industry.