The national government has donated 1.2 tons of cotton seeds worth Sh4.5 to farmers in Siaya county as part of the efforts to promote cotton farming. The donation, from the state department of Trade and Industry, will be distributed across the county and was received by top county government officials led by the county executive for agriculture, Sylvester K'okoth and chief officer for Agriculture, Elizabeth Adongo. Speaking after receiving the consignment, K'okoth hailed the national government for the support which, he added, will help the Siaya county government achieve its one of its goals of creating employment through agricultural value chains.
He said that the county government had picked cotton as one of the transformative value chains that could see locals improve their livelihood On her part, Adongo said the donation will help farmers reduce the cost of production.
The director of industries in the ministry of Trade and Industry, Stanley Koskei, who led the team said the government was committed to improving acreage under cotton. Koskei who was flanked by among others, Siaya deputy county commissioner, Robert Ng'etich, said that Siaya was poised to receive a further 50 tons of new cotton seeds that will be imported from Cameroon. Ng'etich said that the donation was part of the government's Bottom - up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA) and called on farmers to ensure the seeds transform their lives. Local cotton farmers led by Claris Awino and Livingston Ouma hailed the government for the donation and called on fellow farmers to embrace cotton farming which, adding that they are now fetching good prices in the market.
By Philip Onyango
