Boost for cotton farmers as Kwale county constructs ginnery

Cotton farmers in Msambweni, Kwale county. [File, Standard]

Kwale county government has embarked on construction of a model ginnery in Msambweni sub-county.

The ginnery project was initially started by Kwale based Australian mining company Base Titanium in efforts to revive cotton farming.

Setting project was aimed at improving farming, ginning and garment production in the county.

Base Titanium working closely with Kwale county government and Kwale Pamba and Viazi Cooperatives (PAVI) pumped Sh1 billion in the ginnery and textile project.

The PAVI cooperative, supported by the mining company, has been instrumental in the revival of the cotton sector by supporting local small scale farmers to plant the cash crop.

Base Titanium General Manager (GM), External Affairs Simon Wall said that the ginnery will support the miners' cotton farming initiative launched by thefirm under its community development programmes.

''By having the ginnery in Kwale, local farmers will be able to achieve better prices for their produce noting that the cultivation of the cash crop was specifically designed for the purpose of poverty reduction,'' Wall said.

He said the Kwale Cotton Project supported by Base Titanium continues to gain traction among local farmers who are embracing cotton as an income generating crop.

The PAVI cooperative programme which began with 100 farmers in 2015 has since grown to include over 3,000 farmers cultivating 2,000 acres of cotton on their farms.

Base Titanium hopes to expand the Kwale cotton programme to over 10,000 farmers in the coming years.

Governor Fatuma Achani said that the project will enhance cotton production and the textile industry and improve farmers livelihoods.

Achani announced that the new project will focus on developing key components of the cotton value chain comprising of farming, weaving, ginning and linting of cotton.

She said that the county government will strive to harness opportunities in the cotton value chain as well as facilitate investment.

The governor noted that cotton farmers in the past faced challenges ranging from financial constraints, low yields, lack of a sustainable market and under investment in the sectors.
Achani said the cotton value chain has huge potential and more than 3,000 small holder farmers have taken up the venture.

She further said that the cotton ginnery will leverage on the agricultural potential of Kwale to drive socio-economic growth.

The governor said the new ginnery will be able to off-take the high-quality cotton produced by local farmers.

"The county government will ensure that the local traders are given a conducive business environment in order to facilitate smooth running of their businesses as well as generating revenue for our county," said Achani.

She urged local farmers to increase cotton production to boost their income.

Achani said insufficient cotton seeds was one of the major challenges facing local farmers and pledged to distribute high yielding cotton seeds.

President William Ruto who toured the ginnery site recently pledged Sh100 million from the national government towards the project.

Ruto lauded efforts to revive cotton production in Kwale county saying this will create jobs in line with the national government's industrialisation drive.

The President urged stakeholders to come up with a roadmap for the revitalisation of the cotton, ginners and textile sector in the country.

The Head of State said the national government is coming up with aggressive programmes to boost the textile industry in the country and enhance competitiveness.