Firms from China, Turkey and Brazil are are at various stages of discussion with the Kenyan government to roll out investments to set up value addition hubs in the cotton industry, according to the Kenyan agriculture ministry.

Members of the Kenya Chinese Chamber of Commerce are, for instance, expected to set up textile factories to boost value addition.

Chamber vice chairman William Zhuo said that talks were underway between members and local farmers, ginneries, spinners and the national government. Its members are familiarizing themselves with the industry value chain and are building partnerships with other actors such as the learning institutions. The cotton textile industry in Kenya had recorded remarkable progress in the last decade owing to reforms.

Brazil is working on logistics to start producing high-yielding cotton varieties in Kisumu and Homa Bay counties, besides training and initiating classification laboratories, according to interim head of Kenya’s Fibre Crops Directorate Anthony Muriithi.

Brazil government identified sites for seed production in Kisumu and Homa Bay counties...We have signed a memorandum of understanding with the Brazil government as other State agencies address other issues.

Turkish firm HoneyDeco is also reportedly planning to build factories and introduce high-yielding seed varieties in Kenya. The firm has carried out a test on the new seeds, which have since been presented to the Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service for registration, according to a report in an African business daily.