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Francis Opailo in his cotton farm in Teso South, Busia County. [Ignatius Odanga, Standard]
Cotton farmers in Busia are looking forward to reopening of Mulwanda Cotton Ginnery. Already, they have started growing cotton on a large scale to guarantee the factory sufficient raw material.
The factory will reopen in November following the national government’s Sh30 million boost for revival of the ginnery that collapsed more than 10 years ago.
The State stepped in after a bid by Busia Governor Sospeter Ojaamong to bring the factory back to life was blocked by the office of the Controller of Budget (CoB).
The CoB warned Mr Ojaamong’s administration against channeling money to the firm arguing that it was a private entity, therefore, it would be illegal to use public funds on it.
But now with funds available, things are moving in the right direction. Funyula MP Oundo Mudenyo has confirmed availability of ginning machines and money to be used to buy cotton from farmers once the factory is up and running.
“We expect the factory to start ginning latest November this year. I am glad our farmers have embraced farming of cotton. We have money to buy the raw materials from farmers for the ginnery,” said Mr Mudenyo.
A spot check by The Standard has revealed that many of the farmers started growing the cotton between June and August this year.While some are growing hybrid cotton seeds others have opted for BT cotton hybrid seeds. Kenya became the seventh country in the world to embrace BT cotton following official launch of the modified variety in March at Alupe University.
There are at least 60 demonstration farms in Busia where farmers have been acquiring knowledge on hybrid cotton farming.
Francis Okuku is one of the farmers growing cotton in Matayos. He has two acres under cotton that are two months old.
He hopes the cash crop will be ready for harvesting by the time the ginnery reopens.
He has taken the initiative of educating villagers on benefits of planting hybrid cotton.
“I am happy that many locals have embraced cotton growing,” says Okuku.
Francis Opailo is another farmer in Apegei, Teso South constituency, who has adopted cotton farming. He used to farm cotton until the collapse of Malakisi and Nambale cotton ginnery forced him to ditch the cash crop for maize.
Opailo is among more than 10 farmers in Apegei who are optimistic of better returns with the revival of the ginnery. Opailo used to plant the old variety seeds prone to pest attacks.
Gregory Wadenya from Mahyco Company contracted by the national government to supply hybrid seeds to farmers in Busia says 290 kilos of BT cotton seeds and 2,680 hybrid cotton seeds have been distributed so far.
The Standard Group Plc is a multi-media organization
with investments in media platforms spanning newspaper print operations,
television, radio broadcasting, digital and online services. The Standard Group
is recognized as a leading multi-media house in Kenya with a key influence in
matters of national and international interest.
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