CS Agriculture and Livestock Development Hon. Mutahi Kagwe had the privilege of leading a Kenyan delegation to Benin, the leading producer of cotton in Africa. With an estimated yield of 600kgs/ha compared to Kenya’s 368/ha, there are vital lessons that the Ministry can replicate, including using crop based fertilizer, purposed for cotton. The government shall also revitalize and reintegrate spinning and garment factories and raise production from 40,000 metric tons of lint to 500,000MT.
To achieve the desired goals, Kenya will work with the private sector to scale certified seeds development and textile mills with garment manufacturing facilities. As is the case in Benin, this will create direct jobs across the entire value chain and raise farmers’ incomes.
