Governors from the cotton-growing regions in the country want the government to help address the issue of monopoly in the textile sector if efforts to revive the collapsed industry are to succeed.

The governors led by Julius Malombe and Andrew Mwadime of Kitui and Taita Taveta counties respectively said majority of the ginneries were owned by individuals.

They said that cotton farmers were under the mercy of owners of the ginneries who dictate what price per kilo they buy from the farmers after selling the crop seedlings.

The governors who included Simon Kachapin of West Pokot were speaking during a meeting of stakeholders from the sector held at an Eldoret hotel in an event that was graced by Cabinet Secretary for Trade Moses Kuria.

The forum was convened by the CS ahead of the devolution conference which kicked off yesterday at Eldoret Sport Club.

Malombe said that it will be an uphill task to revamp the collapsed textile industry if the government does not move in with speed to address the thorny issue of monopoly by a few ginnery owners in the country.
“Our cotton farmers are a frustrated lot due to the issue of monopoly which the national government has to come in and address the problem if it expects the sector to start on a right footing,” said Malombe.

Addressing the meeting, the CS reiterated the government’s commitment to look into the challenges facing cotton farmers by helping them to form cooperative societies.

He stated that farmers will use their societies to enter into contract with ginneries and other textile companies when selling their crop or source for seedlings.

“The government is set to supply free cotton seedling to farmers across the country in its efforts to revitalise the sector and also create employment to our youths,” said Kuria.

Principal Secretary for Industry Juma Mukhwana said the government will upscale the planting of cotton from the current 40,000 acres of land to 200,000 next year in order to meet the demand in the textile industries.

“Plans are underway to source for 60 tons of cotton seedling from West African countries to be distributed to cotton growing counties of Siaya, Busia, Migori, Elgeyo Marakwet, Taita Taveta and Kisumu,” said Mukhwana.