User:Pambayetu

Kenya Cotton Growers Association was formed in the year 2000 as the only national cotton farmers’ representative body. Kenya Cotton Growers Association is an umbrella body of district cotton farmer groups. Its membership is made up of district level associations which in turn bring together grass root farmer groups in various forms. The objective of KCGA are to provide an advocacy voice for the cotton farmers in furtherance of their interests by advising, lobbying and making representations to other stakeholders on matters of policy, legislation, financing and other matters pertaining to cotton farming; to facilitate an inclusive, participatory and consultative forum for all farmers in all matters concerning cotton, information, education, communication and extension services for cotton farmers; and to provide a channel for acquisition of resources, inputs, grants and other support to cotton farmers and leadership and capacity to the primary district associations for the purpose of strengthening and coordinating farmers roles in matters of cotton production and marketing. It is based on representation of underpowered cotton farmers who cannot speak for themselves. Kenya Cotton Growers Association is an affiliate member of Kenya National Federation of Agricultural Producers.

Over the last years the cotton/textile industry used to be the largest single employer in the manufacturing sector of the economy consisting of 24 ginneries, 52 textile firms, 110 large scale garment manufactures and spinners all together employing over 100,000 people. In addition there are over 75,000 small and micro garment and apparel manufacture. Currently most of the mills are closed and the industry is operating at less than 20% capacity.

Historically farmers in Kenya were organized into production and marketing cooperatives. Due to structural adjustment programmes, a decline in donor funding, marketing liberalization and social political factors led to the collapse of these cooperatives. Farmers were left at the mercies of middlemen to sell their produce; they however didn’t get paid for their products or paid less than the stipulated world market. This led the farmers to neglect their farms and opted for alternative crops and termed cotton as a poor mans crop. In the light of this, farmers became marginalized and everyone spoke on their behalf. Farmers came together and formed a body called Kenya Cotton Growers Association to enable them to speak as one voice on behalf of them. KCGA envisions a vibrant profitable cotton sector providing products and livelihood opportunities to many Kenyans. Its mission is to contribute to the revival and subsequent development of a vibrant and sustainable cotton industry in Kenya, while at the same time increase the number of registered members to the association.

KCGA in collaboration with other stakeholders under the umbrella of KENFAP is now fully fledged in cotton revival efforts. It is engaged in the task of encouraging farmers to form groups (Common Interest Groups) and subsequently organizing them into a network of empowered farmers. This is crucial to their participation in cotton revival if they are to counter marginalization. Experience has shown that where cotton farming is undertaken on small scale as it is done in most African countries, can only achieve economies of scale and bargaining power. When farmers are organized into groups especially when engaging in marketing activities they are able to have an upper hand during bargaining. These groups are also the entry point for accessing support for inputs training and information.

KCGA therefore urges farmers to form groups wherever they may be. Often KCGA gives more information during field days and training sessions and is also willing to respond to request for information from farmer groups. Currently KCGA has managed to organize farmers into groups of 10-100 persons. These groups have managed to form their own constitution, elect their leaders who represent them in annual meetings. These leaders are yet to be trained on good agricultural practices for cotton production in order to disseminate this information to grass root farmers. KCGA operates in the following cotton growing belts Taita taveta, Baringo, Lamu, Kitui, Bondo, Rarieda, Homabay, Busia, Malindi, Kirinyaga, Mbeere and Tharaka.