Cotton farming abandoned in Rift Valley

Cotton farming in the Rift Valley is being abandoned due to market uncertainties for the crop and limited availability of certified seed.

This is evident from the decline in acreage under cultivation, as farmers shift to more lucrative ventures like horticulture.

Within the last two years, cultivation has fallen from 1,211.7 hectares to 794.5 hectares, while production has reduced from 1,334.55 tonnes to 852.60 tonnes.

According to an annual agricultural crop production report, most farmers were not able to sell their produce on time, since the main ginner in the region lacked sufficient funds to purchase the produce.

“Buyers from outside Rift Valley and mainly Nyanza had to step in to save the situation, although the sector has been undergoing a recovery phase after many years of collapse,” says Mr Peter Isigi, Rift Valley crop production officer in the annual agricultural report.

The only ginnery in the region, Salawa, is under rehabilitation.

Cotton in the area is grown in Kerio Valley, Marakwet and Baringo, but most farmers have abandoned the crop due to collapse of cotton cooperative societies.

“It is no longer profitable to invest in cotton cultivation since there is no ready market for the produce, while it takes too long for payments to be made,” said Mr William Kiptoo from Elgeyo-Marakwet County.

He has ventured into horticultural production.