Kenyan Government is spending about KES497 million on the research programme of Kenya Agricultural Research Institute (KARI) to produce quality seeds and crop varieties and strengthening extension services to support farmers.
According to the Agriculture Permanent Secretary, Romano Kiome the reforms initiated by the Government has helped increase production of cotton between 20,000 and 45,000 bales and targets to produce 70,000 bales of locally produced cotton to help manufacturers.
According to the Government, the country can grow 350,000 hectares of cotton and produce 260,000 bales or 52 million kg.
The textile sector of the country is suffering heavily because of cheap imports from developed countries flooding the market which led to the closure of numerous textile companies.