By Violet Auma || violetmedia8@gmail.com
The government has unveiled a comprehensive plan to revive coffee production, which has stagnated for over a decade, through a combination of modern agricultural strategies, youth involvement, and technological advancements.
A key component of this initiative is encouraging young people to take up coffee farming, a practice long associated with the elderly, as a way of ensuring sustainability and economic empowerment.
According to Daniel Chemno, Chairman of the New Kenya Planters Cooperative Union (KPCU), the government is committed to increasing coffee production from the current 52,852 metric tonnes to 151,000 metric tonnes.
“In the past, coffee played a significant role, but over time, its production has declined, and output from Kakamega remains low. We want to assure farmers that the national government is fully committed to reviving coffee farming,” said Chemno.
“We envision a future where coffee farming is not just a tradition passed down through generations but a thriving industry driven by technology, research, and a new generation of farmers,” he added during a sensitization meeting in Kakamega for Members of County Assembly (MCAs).
The government’s strategy includes extensive research to identify the best coffee varieties for different regions, soil testing to ensure optimal conditions for growth, and the adoption of technology to enhance productivity.
The Coffee Research Institute has been tasked with developing disease-resistant varieties and advising farmers on the best farming techniques.
“One of the biggest challenges affecting coffee production has been aging trees and diseases that reduce yields. Our focus is to introduce varieties that are adaptable to different climatic conditions and resistant to common pests,” said Timothy Mirugi, the Managing Director of the New KPCU.
To support farmers in transitioning to or improving their coffee farming ventures, the government has set aside KSh 2 billion to provide essential farm inputs, distribute 20 million high-quality coffee seedlings across the country, and conduct extensive training programs.
This funding is expected to help farmers access fertilizers, pesticides, and other necessary resources that have often been out of reach due to high costs.
“We are currently working with the Coffee Research Institute to train farmers and youth in best agronomic practices. Coffee farming has long been left to the elderly, some as old as 60, but we are encouraging young people to take it up. I am pleased to report that we have already trained over 100 youths here in Kakamega through the Coffee Research Institute in Kitale,” said Mirugi.
Recognizing that a lack of awareness has hindered the expansion of coffee farming, the government is also organizing sensitization meetings across the country to bring more farmers on board.
The sensitization meeting in Kakamega brought together Members of the County Assembly, including the Chair of the Agriculture Committee, James Etabale, Minority Leader David Ndakwa, and nominated MCA Victoria Zillah.
The leaders emphasized the need for local representatives to take an active role in educating their constituents on the benefits of coffee farming.
“Many of our farmers still hold on to sugarcane farming because it is what they inherited from their parents. But times have changed, and we must embrace crops that are more profitable and sustainable. Coffee has the potential to transform the economy of our region,” said Zillah.
The call for diversification from sugarcane to coffee farming is not just about increasing individual incomes but also about positioning Kenya as a major player in the global coffee market.
Despite producing some of the finest coffee in the world, Kenya is not among the top ten coffee-producing nations, lagging behind countries like Brazil, Vietnam, and even neighboring Uganda.
As East Africa’s leading coffee producer, Uganda has established coffee as its top export commodity.
Producing nearly five times more coffee than Kenya, Uganda’s coffee export earnings soared to a record high of $1.4 billion in the 2023/2024 financial year, while Kenya lags significantly behind at $296.8million (Kes 38.4 billion).
Uganda is the 10th largest coffee producer in the world and the second-largest in Africa, home to 10% of the world’s coffee farms.
“We cannot continue watching as our neighbors take the lead in an industry where we have a competitive advantage. We must act now,” said Chemno.
The revival of coffee cooperatives is another crucial aspect of the government’s plan, with the New KPCU promising to ensure an efficient and reliable market for farmers.
Previously, small-scale coffee farmers have struggled with inefficiencies in processing and marketing, leading to delayed payments and low returns.
By strengthening cooperative societies, the government aims to create a structured system where farmers can benefit from economies of scale, improved bargaining power, and direct access to international markets.
The implementation of the coffee revitalization program is being rolled out in two phases.
The first phase will cover Western, Rift Valley, Central, and Nyanza regions, while the second phase will extend to Eastern and Coastal regions.
Through this initiative, the government hopes to increase production, improve livelihoods, and create employment opportunities, particularly for the youth.
The recent G25 Summit on Coffee in Tanzania highlighted new opportunities within the sector, including coffee nursery businesses, improved farming cycles, enhanced coffee husbandry, marketing, and trade.
There is also a growing push to promote domestic coffee consumption, with innovations such as mobile coffee shops being explored to create a local market for Kenyan coffee.
Revitalizing coffee farming comes with challenges such as limited access to credit, fragmented land ownership, and inefficiencies in processing systems.
However, the government remains confident that with effective implementation, Kenya’s coffee sector can reclaim its former prominence.
“We are determined to make coffee farming a success story in this country. We have the land, we have the knowledge, and now, we have the resources to make it happen,” said Mirugi.
With growing government support, farmer awareness programs, and the adoption of modern agricultural practices, Kenya’s coffee industry is on the path to revival.
The extent to which farmers embrace this opportunity will shape the country’s position in the global coffee market in the years ahead.
