Members Debate Cotton Industry Development Bill, Call For the Crops Revival to Spur Economic Development

Members of the National Assembly have hailed the efforts to revive the cotton industry noting its amelioration would result to far reaching socioeconomic impact across the country.

The legislators were contributing to the Cotton Industry Development Bill, Senate Bill No. 5 of 2023, which is currently in Second Reading at the National Assembly.

The Bill co-sponsored by Hon. Mary Emaase (Teso South), and Nominated Senator (ODM), Sen. Beth Syengo was passed by the Senate with amendments on 1st August, 2023.

It provides for the production, processing, marketing and distribution of cotton in Kenya and its products; the establishment of the Cotton Industry Development Board and also provides a framework for cotton farming. The Bill is projected to ensure value addition to cotton and its related products.

While contributing to the Motion, Hon. Charles Nguna (Mwingi West) recalled how Kenya used to be top amongst the biggest producers of cotton, where it would support more than 500,000 households. He observed that with cotton being labour intensive, if this industry is revived, it would create employment in the country and also involve the youth in terms of production.

“The creation of cooperatives from County to National level will also help increase employment opportunities, generate revenue through taxes and contribute to development in the counties especially in arid and semi-arid areas where cotton thrives. I would like to encourage Hon. Emaase to go beyond this and ensure proper implementation in all the counties involved”, Hon. Nguna said.

While supporting the Bill, Hon. Beatrice Adagala (Vihiga County) noted that cotton was one of the lucrative industries in the country a few years ago, but it went down, adding that this Bill is timely as it would support cotton farming in different parts of the country.

He asked the Ministry of Agriculture to ensure that most of the areas that grow cotton have their factories revived, so that farmers can embark on growing cotton in large numbers.

Hon. Titus Lotee (Kacheliba) supported the Bill, adding that with 85 per cent of Kenya’s land being arid and semi-arid, and with cotton doing well in such environment, the crop could generate immense revenue if strongly supported.

“I am looking at the potential of areas that are semi-arid like Kacheliba where I come from. People are toiling every year to plant crops that fail because of little rain brought about by the effects of climate change. People are going through losses every year and yet, if a crop like cotton was promoted, it would help generate income.”

Hon. Lotee further recounted a few decades ago, Kenya used to export over 70,000 bales of cotton every year, but by 2019/20, they could hardly export 5,000 bales of cotton.

“Let this country think more about the semi-arid land and support production of BT cotton, whereby Kenya can easily produce 1,000 to 2,000 kilogrammes of cotton in 1 acre, generating around Kshs. 2 million shillings annually ”, Hon. Lotee urged.

Hon. Samuel Atandi (Alego Usonga) cited a section of the Bill that seeks to make it easy for investors who may want to engage in the processing of cotton, be licensed.

“The County government should be given the mandate to license processers to ease the distance covered by farmers to take their produce to the factory. As a Country, we are losing out on this important cash crop. We have to make a decision whether we will continue relying on exported clothes from China and Turkey.”

In her reply, Hon. Emaase appreciated all Members who contributed overwhelmingly in support of the Bill. She reiterated the importance of reviving the cotton industry in this country, and the benefits that will be accrued from the revival of that industry.

She said that she is looking forward to a time when all the ginneries that collapsed will be back to operation, adding that the views shared by Members will go a long way in improving this Bill as it progresses to Third Reading.

She also assured Hon. Abdul Haro who had raised a concern on the registration of farmers, that it is important to register farmers for purposes of planning, determining farmers onboarded, providing farm inputs, capacity building, and estimation of production.

The Question on this Motion was deferred to the next sitting.