By Harriet Chausiku
The county government of Kisumu in partnership with the Lake Region Economic Block (LREB) and other partners held a stakeholder’s meeting aiming towards cotton revival in the lake region at Kisumu hotel.
Addressing the team present through zoom, Kisumu Governor Prof. Anyang’ Nyong’o congratulated the team for taking a major step forward and urged the team to work towards implementation.
The Governor assured the team of the county’s preparedness and asked the CEC Agriculture Gilchrist Okuom to present to the cabinet a memo which summarizes their discussion and seeks to put in place the recommendation of the group making awareness of the partners they have in cotton growing and manufacturers along the lake region for allocation of enough resources.
Kisumu county economic and social council had also proposed the establishment of a cotton factory in Kisumu to make among other things sanitary pads.
Governor Nyong’o also encouraged farmers to embark on cotton planting following its advantage as the shortest growing cash crop which rewards in three months.
Cotton seeds are pressed for edible oil and the byproduct which is the seed cake can be feed for our poultry and dairy animals that facilitates increased milk production among others.
Speaking during the occasion CEC for Agriculture Mr. Gilchrist Okuom reaffirmed the team’s commitment to promoting sustainable change to the livelihood of the people.
After the world bank structural adjustment in the 1990s cotton production in the lake region went down and most ginneries became dormant forcing the processing of the products to be done outside the region.
Echoing him is the Chief Officer Agriculture Dr. Paul Omanga who expressed optimism that the strategies kept in place would contribute to the reduction of poverty in the society as job opportunities will be created in both research and information department and also technically with the engagement of the jua kali industry.
Present during the occasion were representatives from LREB, NACOSTI, LBTA, SRI, Gearbox, NITA, AFA, MASENO UNIVERSITY, Rural Youth Development Program and Rivertex among others who joined through zoom.
