The county government of Elgeyo Marakwet has entered into a contract farming agreement with Rift Valley Products Limited, in a bid to revive cotton farming in the county. The company’s ginnery is in Salawa, Baringo county.
The county government says that more than 3000 farmers are preparing to venture into production this year with the county providing seeds and training them on the best farming practices throughout the planting season. 60 tonnes of cotton seeds, enough to grow about 5,000 acres, have been delivered to the county, awaiting distribution.
Last season, farmers who had planted the crop in the region earned around Kshs 30 million, leading to more farmers becoming interested this year. The farmers will earn Kshs 72 per kilo of clean cotton, with an acre producing about 2000 kilograms, which could earn a farmer Kshs144,000. According to Amos Kirui from Rift Valley Products, payment will be prompt and via mobile money transfers. The farmers will also benefit from sorghum seeds.
Agriculture CEC Edwin Kibor who led a farmers registration exercise urged farmers in the cotton growing wards of Endo, Lower Emsoo, Soy North, Lower Tambach, Lower Sambirir, Arror and Soy South to venture seriously into cotton production.
Three teams were dispatched to the wards to register farmers with Livestock Chief Officer Robert Lagat pitching camp in Soy North and Soy South Wards while his Agriculture counterpart Edwin Komen led another team of officers in Arror, Emsoo and Tambach Wards.
Leonard Kandie, a cotton farmer from Kabulwo, welcomed the move, saying it would change the fortunes of several residents. “In less than 100 days, we will be able to harvest our cotton. I tried it last year and it earned me good money,” he said.
Mr Kibor said the distribution exercise will commence before the beginning of April rains.
