Home breadcru News breadcru Cotton breadcru 6 Kenyan counties to grow Bt cotton after cabinet nod

6 Kenyan counties to grow Bt cotton after cabinet nod

03 Feb '20
1 min read
Pic: Shutterstock
Pic: Shutterstock

Farmers in six Kenyan counties have been allowed to plant transgenic (Bt) cotton as the country moves to ramp up local raw material supply lines for export processing zone (EPZ) manufacturers, enabling them to do away with imported semi-finished fabrics in export production, according to industrialisation principal secretary Francis Owino.

The trial cultivation of Bt cotton is under way in Busia, Baringo, Tana River, Kirinyaga, Makueni and Meru counties. Once approved by the cabinet, cultivation of the variety will guarantee a steady supply of raw materials to textile manufacturers, Owino was quoted as saying by a Kenyan newspaper while touring New Rivatex recently.

In December, the Kenyan cabinet approved controlled farming of Bt cotton for commercial purposes following field trials conducted over a period of five years.

ALCHEMPro News Desk (DS)

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