The Decline of Cotton Growing in Karachuonyo, Kenya from the Mid-1970s-1980

Author: Shem Otieno Oricho

Date: 2019

Abstract: Cotton has been one of the major cash crops that the Luo people of Karachuonyo in Kenya grew alongside other economic activities and engagements. Some of these activities developed to certain admirable level whereas others somewhat sharply declined after vibrant development at some stage. One of these activities was cotton growing. This paper has analyzed factors that led to the decline of cotton growing in Karachuonyo from the mid-1970s-1980, which was the objective of the study. The study was guided by Underdevelopment Theory and, Innovation and Adaptation concepts. Purposive Sampling was used to identify cotton farmers and agricultural officers who were interviewed. Primary data were collected through oral interviews and Archival research. A tape recorder was used in the collection of data. Oral interviews were conducted until a point of saturation was attained. This implies that interviewing respondents stopped when majority of them started repeating most of what others had said. Data was analysed qualitatively. Major findings of the study were poor marketing policy, delayed payment and seed issuance, political interference, corruption in the cotton sub-sector, bad weather and cotton pests and the engine problem of Kendu Bay Ginnery of 1974 led to the decline of cotton growing.The decline of cotton growing has reduced income earning power of the people of Karachuonyo. Most of them have since shifted into production of other crops and this as well led to loss of means of livelihoods among the people of Karachuonyo. This eventually led to the closure of Kendu Bay cotton ginnery

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