Lamu County Government has announced plans to construct a Ksh100 million cotton ginnery.
The project which is a partnership of the County government and Thika Cloth Mills, will be set at Mpeketoni as part of the government’s plan to revive cotton farming.
“The ginnery will be set up in partnership with Thika Cloth Mills at Mpeketoni and is expected to have an output capacity to process 20,000 metric tonnes of cotton fibre annually”, said Governor Timamy.
Timamy who is also the A.N.C Party leader was accompanied by his Deputy Raphael Munyua.
He said towards supporting the agricultural recovery path his administration will be introducing annual Mpeketoni Agricultural Show to guarantee an expansive networking and interactions with foremost stakeholders in the industry.
He further promised to invite the Senate Standing Committee on Agriculture to Lamu for a public participation on policies to do with cotton in Lamu.
Thika Cloth Mills Managing Director Tejal Dodhia, lauded the Governor’s initiative and committed to have the ginnery completed by December 2023.
She further assured the farmers that they will partner with the county to ensure they get certified high yield seeds at the right planting season.
This year the Lamu County Government with development partners will give 8 tonnes of cotton seed to over 6,000 farmers which is an increase from 4 tonnes that were given last year.
Towards reviving the agricultural sector in Lamu the governor committed to ensure his administration sets up a fish processing and cashew nut processing plants that will in turn encourage farmers to increase their production and significantly increase their household income.
In attendance was County Director for Agriculture James Njoroge, Agriculture and Food Authority representative Fanuel Lubanga, and representatives from Lake Kenyatta Famers Cooperative, Witu Muungano cooperative, Hindi Magogoni Farmers’ Cooperative and Lamu County Cotton Growers.
