Kenya: The Researchers Building Kenya's Cotton Industry From The Seed Up

What the report says

Researchers at Kirinyaga University in central Kenya are testing whether Bt cotton seed can be produced locally, in a study aimed at strengthening the country’s cotton sector. The work, reported by Bird Story Agency and published by AllAfrica, is taking place in university labs and on nearby demonstration fields, with seed trials that began in September 2025 and are now moving into laboratory testing.

The team, led by Dr. David Kabata, is checking whether locally produced seed is true to type, viable and healthy, and whether it retains the intended Bt trait. Field assistant Grace Wambui said the researchers started with approved and certified Bt cotton seed supplied by Mahyco, then used controlled planting and hand pollination to support seed production. Kabata said the purpose is to establish a reliable process before any move to farmers or commercial growers.

The research matters because Kenya depends on imported certified Bt cotton seed, and officials say supply gaps and procurement delays have affected farmers. The Agriculture and Food Authority has said local production could help improve availability, although it warned that lower costs would also depend on how efficiently seed is produced and distributed. Kabata said local production might reduce prices significantly if successful, but he and other experts stressed that seed alone will not revive the industry.

Broader support across the value chain is still needed, including extension services, ginneries, and processing capacity. Kirinyaga University says it is not set up for commercial-scale seed production, so any positive results would need follow-on investment from seed companies and other actors.