Economy & Politics Shortage of raw materials, funding hits Rivatex productionA man works at the Rivatex East Africa factory in Eldoret town on September 20, 2016. PHOTO | JARED NYATAYAEldoret-based Rift Valley Textile Mills (Rivatex) East Africa is operating below capacity due to acute shortage of raw materials, underfunding from the government and absence of foreign donors to sustain its operations. “Famers in cotton growing regions need to increase their production and supply us with more raw materials to sustain our annual operations,” he said. Cotton farmers in the North Rift have, however, petitioned the government to set up a stabilization fund to offer them guaranteed market and better returns from the produce. The revival of Salawa cotton ginnery and distribution of free seed by the government has motivated farmers in Kerio valley region to invest in cotton production.

Source: The North Africa Journal March 13, 2017 18:56 UTC