Kenya: From Boom to Bust and Back: Kenya's Long Cotton Journey

Kenya's cotton industry, once a thriving and vital part of the economy, has experienced a dramatic decline and subsequent recovery. In the past, cotton was considered "white gold" due to its ability to generate income for farmers, support rural communities, and provide material for textile mills. Farmers in various parts of Kenya, particularly in areas like Mpeketoni and Lamu County, planted cotton on fertile land, often with the help of cooperatives and ginneries that facilitated market access and raw material supply.

However, the industry faced significant challenges when a powerful businessman gained control of the cotton business, establishing a monopoly and exerting excessive influence over prices. This led to frustration among farmers who invested heavily in the crop, resulting in a weakened cooperative system and a subsequent collapse of the industry.

David Njuguna, chairman of the Lake Kenyatta Cooperative Society, recalls these difficult times vividly, having grown up watching his parents cultivate cotton on land they received in a settlement scheme established in 1976 during Kenya's first President Mzee Jomo Kenyatta's tenure.

Despite these setbacks, the industry has shown signs of resurgence with the adoption of Bt cotton, a genetically modified variety engineered to protect against bollworm pests. Kenya approved the commercialization of Bt cotton in 2019 after successful national trials, marking a significant effort to revive the country's cotton industry using biotechnology.

However, the politics surrounding genetically modified crops in Kenya have been complex, involving debates on food safety, environmental impact, regulation, and public trust.

For farmers like Mohammed Dikature, who has cultivated cotton for over 30 years in Lamu West Sub-County, the revival of the industry is more about survival and securing a better livelihood. Dikature emphasizes the need for better prices, access to quality seeds, and improved support systems to make cotton farming economically viable. He argues that a higher farm-gate price of at least Sh100 per kilogramme is necessary for farmers to cover their costs and generate meaningful profits.

Cecily Wanjiku, another cotton farmer, highlights the importance of land ownership and secure tenure over the land cultivated. Many farmers lack formal documentation proving their land ownership, which discourages them from investing heavily in their farms, as they are uncertain about their long-term access to the land. Wanjiku also stresses the significance of planting within the right window, noting that delaying planting beyond March can significantly impact production levels.

The future of Kenya's cotton industry hinges on the success of Bt cotton and the broader cotton value chain. While the technology can increase productivity, the numbers must make business sense for farmers to continue planting. Access to quality seeds, favorable prices, and a supportive cotton value chain are crucial factors in the industry's ongoing recovery.