The United States government will work with counties to revive cotton farming so that Kenya can continue benefitting from the African Growth and Opportunities Act.
US Ambassador Meg Whitman said with textile among products allowed duty free access to the US under Agoa, American companies had invested in the industry but were facing a major challenge due to shortage of cotton supply.
She spoke in Iten when she paid a courtesy call on Elgeyo Marakwet Governor Wisley Rotich.
The ambassador said companies were forced to import cotton from as far as China and other African countries, a process that took long and was expensive.
She said her government was working with several counties through the provision of BT and hybrid cotton seeds to farmers for planting to enable the companies get constant supply.
“Many of the companies are saying they cannot do much without domestic supply of cotton.” Whitman added the US government was working to rejuvenate aging cotton gins to create cotton fabric to be supplied to cotton factories.
Revival of the cotton industry would have a major impact on farmers from areas that grow the crop, like Elgeyo Marakwet.
American companies have set up shop in Kenya and are contracted to make clothes for other firms back home.
Partnership between the county and the US government through the Kentegra company has seen the revival of pyrethrum, with close to 30,000 farmers embracing the crop.
The ambassador said the company not only provides inputs to farmers but also works directly with them, which has eliminated brokers thus ensuring farmers earn what they deserve to meet their financial needs.
Governor Rotich said the county had greatly benefitted from partnership with the US government in various sectors, especially health and agriculture.
He cited the Ampath programme, which has been working
in the county for the last 11 years
and helped in the fight against
HIV-Aids.
