The recent relaunch of Eldoret based Rivatex East Africa presents an enormous opportunity to farmers from across the region in the area of cotton supply, the factory’s primary raw material.
Towards ensuring farmers in cotton growing counties of NOREB are well positioned to fully benefit from the manufacturing venture, bloc CEO Dr. Dominic Biwott paid a courtesy call to Rivatex Managing Director Thomas Kipkurgat.
In the discussions, Rivatex and NOREB agreed to enter into an understanding that will see the economic bloc coordinate cotton production in the six potential cotton producing counties of the region, while the textile manufacturer will guarantee market for the farmers’ produce.
The activities envisaged in the partnership include capacity building and sensitization of farmers, extension services, setting up of cotton farming demonstration sites, facilitating of access to certified seeds and pesticides.
The bloc will also work with Rivatex and member counties in the revival of cotton ginneries and in exploring ways of setting up of new ones.
The counties with cotton production potential in the North Rift Economic Bloc include Samburu, Nandi, Turkana, Elgeyo Marakwet, Baringo, Trans Nzoia and West Pokot.