Tharaka Nithi Governor Muthomi Njuki (right) flags off disbursement of cotton seeds to farmers at Chiakariga ward in Tharaka constituency last week. The farmers from the lower parts of the county received 50 tons of cotton seeds in a bid to revive the farming which was the main cash crop in the region some 20 years back. Photo/Mwenda Njeru
By Mwenda Njeru
At least 30,000 cotton farmers in Tharaka Nithi County have received free-certified seeds in a bid to revive the crop that was one of the main sources of livelihood in the region back in 1980s.
Speaking yesterday after launching distribution of the seeds at Chiakariga market in Tharaka constituency, Tharaka Nithi Governor Muthomi Njuki said a total of 70 tons will be disbursed to farmers with a target of producing over 4000 tons of cotton fiber with an expected economic impact of Sh300 million.
He said the national government in collaboration with the county governments has an elaborate plan to revive cotton farming in order to boost textile industry which is on its knees in the country.
He said the government has set a Guaranteed Minimum Return prize of Sh72 per kilogramme from the current Sh52 which will make farming one of the best ventures.
“The target is to revive cotton farming which was the main source of income for residents of Tharaka constituency and the lower parts of Maara and Chuka/Igambang’ombe constituencies back in 1980s before liberalisation of the textile industry dealt it a huge blow,” said Governor Njuki.
He said cotton grown in Muranga, Nyeri, Kirinyaga, Meru and Tharaka Nithi County will be processed at Sungin ginnery located in Tunyai in Tharaka constituency.
The county boss asked the farmers to embrace the farming because of the availability of market and the guaranteed price of Sh72 noting that it will greatly boost the economy of the lower part of the county which does not receive enough rainfall to support coffee and tea farming.
“Farmers from the upper parts of Maara and Chuka/Igambang’ombe constituencies have coffee and tea as their cash crops and cotton will now be your cash crop,” he said.
He said revival of the ginneries and the textile industry at large will also create job opportunities for the jobless youths and lower the cost of clothes.
Njuki who was in company of Chiakariga ward representative, Joseph Kinyua said out of the current 100,000 bales of cotton processed in the ginneries in the country, only 8000 bales come from local farmers making the cost of production very high.
An official from Sungin ginnery, Ms Virginia Kihoro said they currently travel several kilometers to Lamu and Western Kenya to buy cotton which is still not enough.
He said that they will support farmers to ensure that they produce the best cotton fibre and urged them to form groups for convenient reach.
“We encourage farmers to form groups to avoid brokers. Ginnery trucks will be going around the region collecting cotton from centres and we will be buying cash from farmers,” said Ms Kihoro.
The county chief blamed the national government for the delay in distribution of the seeds arguing that instead of giving the counties money to buy the seeds, the Ministry of Agriculture insisted on taking the responsibility.
He claimed that the national government is yet to fully embrace devolution and that is why devolved functions are still held in Nairobi.
“I had planned to give farmers the cotton seeds before the onset of rains when I was distributing free maize, beans and green grams seeds but the national government delayed procurement,” he said.
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