The government will introduce contract farming in the cotton industry to help revive it.

“A contractual model will motivate farmers, just as sugarcane farmers are set to enter into a contractual agreement with the government by the end of this month,” Agriculture PS Richard Lesiyampe said.

He said they will do the same with other food crops to guarantee farmers a market, especially the African Growth and Opportunities Act market, and better prices for their produce.

“In so doing, we expect cotton farmers to boost their production, which currently stands at 4,000 tonnes or 21,000 bales, against a spinning capacity demand of about 10,000 tonnes,” Lesiyampe said last week.

He spoke in Nairobi during a two-day meeting with cotton stakeholders from Kenya and Mozambique.

Lesiyampe said Kenya imports substantial amounts of cotton lint and seed cake for local textile mills and feed manufacturers.