Development of a Viable Cotton Raw Material Supply Chain

The Kenya Kwanza government  promised to work with the apparel export industry to develop a viable cotton raw material supply chain.

• The government reports that it has been working to increase cotton production locally. This includes providing farmers with certified seeds, improved cotton varieties, better farming methods and Bt cotton. The government is also supporting research to develop better cotton varieties and improve farming and processing methods. These efforts are intended to ensure that Kenyan ginners and textile manufacturers have a more reliable supply of locally produced cotton.
• The Kenya Kwanza government distributed cotton hybrid seeds to farmers and released the draft National Cotton Textile and Apparel Policy in 2024 aimed at improving coordination between farmers, ginners, textile manufacturers and apparel exporters.
• Further, the government reported that it invested more than KSh7 billion to modernise Rivatex, one of the country’s major textile manufacturers to create greater domestic capacity to turn locally produced cotton into yarn and fabric instead of exporting raw cotton or relying on imported textile materials. This is because Kenya’s export-garment factories have historically relied heavily on imported fabrics. 
• Kenya Institute of Public  Policy Research & Analysis also launched a report to review the cotton, textile and apparels sector and how cotton can be promoted in the second hand economy.