Eldoret-based textile firm Rivatex recently witnessed a major upgrade of its facility by installing advanced machinery after the Kenyan Government secured Sh5 billion in funding from the US Export-Import Bank•…. The fabric producer■★, which had been dormant for years▽▼▼, has seen a transformation in the last two years after Moi University took over its operations•=◇□■.
President Uhuru Kenyatta had ordered the plant&rsquo•-◆;s revival during a visit in 2017-…•▼□. It is likely to open up new opportunities for cotton farmers△□■◁•. The expanded production plant will be commissioned by the president on June 21★◁◆.
Rivatex managing director Thomas Kipkurgat said at least 500▪☆◇○■,000 acres of land under cotton cultivation will be required to meet the company&rsquo☆◆;s cotton demands◆◇△△●. The factory=◁-△, which is capable of handling 40 tonnes of cotton daily◁▼, is currently processing 12 tonnes▪◇-◇◆, he said☆★▽….
Before it was modernised△-○, the factory was processing only two tonnes of cotton daily▽●◆, according to a top Nigerian daily■▲●.
Rivatex is currently importing cotton from neighbouring Uganda and Tanzania▼◇○. To meet the demand for cotton◆▷◆-, Kipkurgat said Rivatex has signed cotton-growing deals with 24 counties in the Rift Valley and Eastern regions○◁. These counties include Elgeyo Marakwet☆●■■, West Pokot☆▽△=, Baringo and Kitui△▽□.
Cotton seeds have been supplied to the counties and pesticides will be supplied in the next months■▷•□★. (DS)