Nairobi Star (Nairobi)
Jane Mugambi
22 July 2011
The European Union will help boost small scale cotton farmers in Kenya. Dr Daniel Karanja said several research institutions will collaborate with the EU to improve cotton production. The institution that will participate in the projects include Common Funds for Commodity and Kenya Agricultural Research Institute.
Karanja said farmers in Tharaka South district have a problem with the variety of cotton they are growing adding that experts will look into the soil in the area to determine the right variety for the region. He said the project will focus on the areas where cotton is the main cash crop. Karanja, who is a plant pathologist, said the aim of the initiative is to transfer new technology to farmers. He said through field days, farmers will learn how to boost their production.
Karanja said there will be an exchange programme between Kenya and Mozambique which will enable farmers to visit each other and learn more on production. He said that their two cotton varieties which are under research to improve production. Karanja said$2,457,000 is going to be used to improve cotton production in the country. He said that in Tharaka South district where the climate is very dry, needs 89M variety that can stand high temperatures to conserve water.
He also added that the varieties will be able to identify the pests and the methods that are affecting the cotton while in the fields for production. He said that through filed days,farmers will learn new methods that will make them earn a living and will also make them embrace what they have learnt on growth.
AllAfrica – All the Time
Taken from:
New Project to Boost Cotton Farming