Cotton farmers in Kenya’s Kerio Valley recently finalised a deal with Rift Valley Textiles (Rivatex) to sell their produce to the company. Rivatex will provide certified cotton seeds and pesticides to the farmers and purchase the produce, as per the agreement. The farmers have suffered a lot due to poor marketing and many have abandoned the crop.
Farmers there had been complaining of exploitation from middlemen who buy their produce at measly prices. Around 300 farmers in the valley grow cotton.
Though the crop thrived in the region, many farmers had abandoned it due to lack of market and persistent pests and diseases, a Kenyan newspaper report quoted Peter Barngetuny, chairman of Kerio Valley Cotton Producers Association, as saying.
According to Rivatex managing director Thomas Kipkurgat, the company would partner with Elgeyo Marakwet County to increase the supply of raw materials.
The industry ministry of Kenya said cotton production has remained below the national demand due to unstable international prices and high cost of production. It is targeting to put more than 50,000 acres in Elgeyo Marakwet under cotton.
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