Textile companies ask State to ban ‘mitumba’ imports

Statistics indicate that from a production level of 20,000 bales of cotton in 2007, the country’s production fell to only 8,000 bales last year due to drought and the post-election disturbances.

At the moment, the country requires 80,000 bales to meet the domestic requirement.

Local factories are importing close to 80 per cent of their raw materials.

Price volatility and erratic supply in the international market has forced most manufacturers to turn to synthetics.

Mr Kowon says this season will be the pay-off time for the many campaigns, including low cost credit, free seeds and revival of old cotton schemes.

Cotton harvesting is already going on at the Coast, in Eastern, Rift Valley, Nyanza and Western provinces.

“We are collaborating with the Kenya Agricultural Research Institute (Kari) to develop a seed variety for the long staple cotton that the country has never produced before,” said Mr Kowon.

The long staple cotton, known for its long lint that is used in the manufacturing quality fabrics is imported from Egypt.

The authority says it has finalised details of the legal framework for contract farming of cotton.

Under the new arrangement, farmers will only be allowed to start growing the dry crop after agreeing with the ginners on the quota and payment.

Maximising profits

At the country’s export processing zones, the regulator denies that tightening investment condition is driving away investors.

“Investors that came into the country with feasibility studies anticipated the lapse of the Multi-Fibre Agreement (MFA) are still going strong. Only the speculators who came with the short term aim of maximising profits... have flown out,” says Mr Joseph Kosure, the EPZ authority’s acting managing director.