The 20-year journey for Bt cotton trials has finally come to fruition with the first launch of a series of demonstrations across the country.
Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Peter Munya kick-started planting of Bt Cotton at Alupe University demonstration farm in Busia County on Monday.
Other dignitaries who planted the certified seeds included Devolution CS Eugene Wamalwa, Busia Governor Sospeter Ojaamong, Deputy Governor Moses Mulomi and Busia Woman Representative Florence Mutua.
Munya said Busia County was picked to be the “capital” of Western region for holding most potential for cotton growing in the country.
He said that 60 demonstration farms out of 1000 in 23 counties that grow the crop, will be in Busia County.
Busia is the lead County of the LREB Pillar of Agriculture.
Other cotton growing counties in LREB includes Siaya, Migori, Homabay, Kisumu, and Bungoma.
Revival of cotton industry is one of the flagship projects of the LREB Pillar of Agriculture and is supported by the Summit.
Munya attributed the collapse of cotton, textiles and apparels industries in 1980s to inappropriate macro-economic policies, including importing second-hand clothes into the country
” Farmers should take advantage of Bt Cotton which matures faster than other varieties, it’s resistant to pests such as bollworms,” he said.
The CS said each demo farm will train 100 farmers.
The CS also launched the hybrid (MAHYCO) cotton seed variety which he said was high yielding and pest resistant.
Munya said Busia Uganda is embracing the cotton variety.
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