By Bisola Adeyemo
Thika firm in Kenya has made plans to support Taita Taveta cotton farmers with farm inputs.
According to Thika Cloths Mill CEO, Tejal Dodhia, the firm has embarked on modernization of machinery in a bid to increase production and workforce.
Taita Taveta is among several Counties that have embraced cotton farming after the government announced that it will revive the sector, through its big four agenda on Manufacturing agenda.
Speaking after touring the company’s Thika factory to acquaint themselves with the cotton value chain, the farmers said the huge processing capacity that the company has, challenged them to embrace the crop, even more, KNA.
While speaking, the chairlady of Taita Taveta Pamba Ni Mali Co-operative Society, said marketing and farm input challenges had been frustrating their efforts to fulfill cotton farming county’s potential.
“What we have witnessed in terms of the factory’s cotton processing potential has challenged us to embrace cotton farming to fulfil our county’s production potential. We acknowledge that cotton farming is profitable and with the support of market and farm input, nothing can hinder us from making a living out of cotton farming,” said Ramadhani.
Dodhia pledged to continue supporting cotton farmers through the provision of farm inputs like fertilizer, pesticides as well as a ready market at a fair price.
“We have huge demand for cotton and I encourage farmers to embrace large scale cotton farming. This will save us from having to buy the produce from the neighbouring Uganda and Tanzania,” she said.
