𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐞 𝐨𝐧 𝐀𝐠𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐋𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐜𝐤 𝐄𝐧𝐠𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐬 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝐂𝐨𝐭𝐭𝐨𝐧 𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐲 𝐃𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐩𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐁𝐢𝐥𝐥, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟑

A Parliamentary Committee is scrutinizing a legislative proposal that seeks to enhance the production, processing, marketing and distribution of cotton in Kenya and its products.

The Committee on Agriculture and Livestock, led by Vice Chair Hon. Brighton Yegon (Bomet), engaged representatives from Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock, State Department on Industries and Development, Kenya Cotton Ginners Association, Council of Governors, and Agriculture and Food Authority, on the Cotton Industry Development Bill, 2023.

The Bill, sponsored by Sen. Beth Syengo (Nominated), aims to establish the Cotton Industry Development Board, create a framework for cotton farming, and enhance value addition to cotton and its related products in Kenya. This initiative aligns with the country’s strategic focus under the Vision 2030, Industrialization Strategy, Agriculture Sector Growth and Transformation Strategy (ASGTS), and the Bottom-up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA).

According to submissions made by the Ministry of Agriculture, in 2022, Kenya’s cotton sector has produced 3,762 MT valued at KES. 211.8 million. However, this falls below the global average productivity. The country’s cotton production, contributing to 14% of the total lint requirements.

“This Bill is a good starting point for revitalizing cotton farming and ginning. Those who grew up in cotton growing areas rember when the crop sustained livelihoods,” said Matayos MP, Hon. Geoffrey Odanga.

Members of the Committee acknowledged the potential of the cotton industry noting that Kenya has 6 functional ginneries and an estimated 25,000 to 45,000 smallholder cotton farmers across 24 counties.

Notably, the Ministry of Agriculture and the Agriculture Food Authority posed the Bill, citing potential conflicts with the existing frameworks established by the Agriculture and Food Authority Act, 2013, and the Crops Act, 2013.

The Ministry emphasizes that the merger of various agricultural regulatory bodies into the Agriculture and Food Authority was designed to streamline regulatory functions, minimize overlaps, and enhance cost-effectiveness. They argue that the proposed board might undermine the intended benefits of this consolidation. Additionally, the Ministry highlights ongoing efforts, including input support programs, local seed promotion, and the National Value Chain Development Program, aimed at revitalizing the cotton sector.

The Council of Governors and the Kenya Cotton Ginneries Association supported the legislative propasals with amendments noting that revitalisation through investment in the cotton industry is crucial to growing the economy of several counties.