The government has injected Sh409 million into the revival of Kenya’s cotton industry through the distribution of Bt cotton seeds to farmers ahead of the rains.
The initiative, spearheaded by the Agriculture and Food Authority (AFA) in partnership with Thika Cloth Mills, targets farmers in seven counties in the eastern region, with the aim of increasing production and supplying local textile manufacturers with raw materials.
Farmers in Mutuobare, Mbeere North constituency, Embu county, have welcomed the programme, saying the free seeds will lower production costs and encourage more growers to return to cotton farming.
Francis Runje and Joseph Nyagah, who are among the beneficiaries, noted the high cost of improved seeds had previously locked out many small-scale farmers, with a kilogramme selling at about Sh4,000.
“The free seeds will reduce the cost of production and enable us to plant more cotton. With better yields and a ready market, we expect to earn more from the crop,” Runje said.
They explained the Bt cotton variety takes about three months to mature, compared with six months for conventional varieties, while producing more bolls and offering better resistance to destructive pests.
The farmers urged growers to prepare their farms and plant early to take advantage of the anticipated rains and improve their harvests.
The seed distribution comes as cotton production gradually recovers from years of decline, although the country is yet to meet the demand from its textile manufacturing industry.
According to the latest Kenya National Bureau of Statistics data, cotton deliveries to factories and ginneries increased to 8,800 tonnes in 2025, up from 6,200 tonnes in 2024 and 3,900 tonnes in 2023.
Production had dropped to just 1,300 tonnes in 2021, highlighting the challenges that have faced the sector.
Thika Cloth Mills CEO officer Tejal Dodhia said the intervention would accelerate the recovery of an industry that had struggled with inadequate local supplies of raw materials.
She recalled the company had previously relied on cotton imports from neighbouring Uganda and Tanzania to sustain its manufacturing operations due to low domestic production.
“We have had challenges sourcing enough cotton locally because production has been low. This intervention will help increase the number of farmers growing the crop and improve the supply of raw materials to our factories,” Dodhia said.
She attributed the renewed interest in cotton farming to government interventions, including the Buy Kenya, Build Kenya campaign and improved farm-gate prices.
Dodhia said President William Ruto’s directive to raise the cotton purchase price from Sh52 to Sh72 per kilogramme had helped restore farmers’ confidence and encouraged them to expand production.
The improved production has raised hopes among industry players of eventually meeting domestic demand and exploring export opportunities once local manufacturers have secured adequate supplies.
Dodhia welcomed the government’s intervention, saying it would ease the financial burden on private investors and expand the number of farmers engaged in production.
“Farmers should not worry about where to sell their cotton. We are ready to buy their produce at Sh72 per kilogramme, giving them a reliable market for their harvest,” she said.
Dodhia also urged Kenyans to support locally manufactured products, arguing increased domestic consumption would strengthen the textile industry and create more employment opportunities.
She cited government contracts awarded to Thika Cloth Mills to manufacture uniforms for the Kenya Defence Forces, the National Youth Service and the National Police Service as evidence of how public procurement could support local industries.
Dodhia said stronger collaboration between farmers and manufacturers would help establish a sustainable value chain, linking cotton-growing communities to factories and creating jobs in agriculture and manufacturing.
“When the government and Kenyans support locally manufactured products, we create demand for our industries, sustain factories and generate employment opportunities for our people,” she said.
Embu Governor Cecily Mbarire welcomed the partnership between the national government and private investors, saying it presented an opportunity for farmers in Mbeere North and other cotton-growing areas to improve their incomes.
She urged farmers to embrace the crop, noting that the availability of free seeds and a ready market could make cotton a viable source of income for rural households.
“Cotton farming has the potential to improve household incomes in our communities. We want our farmers to take advantage of the free seeds and the ready market to increase production,” she said.
She encouraged growers to prepare their land and plant in good time, saying the revival of cotton farming would also contribute to the development of the local textile industry.
