Kenya’s coffee farmers to earn more as government reforms boost production
KENYA – Kenya’s Deputy President Kithure Kindiki has assured coffee farmers of increased earnings this year, citing key government interventions aimed at improving production and enhancing returns.
Speaking on Thursday during a meeting with members of the National Assembly Coffee Caucus, Kindiki revealed that the projected price for coffee cherries in 2025 is Kes 110 (US$0.85) per kilogram, nearly double the amount farmers received in 2022.
He attributed this increase to ongoing reforms in the coffee subsector, which have addressed long-standing challenges and streamlined operations.
“We have to make sure coffee farmers earn more, and coffee brings more foreign exchange as it used to. The Kenya Kwanza manifesto requires us to increase incomes and value for our farmers and other players in the value chain,” Kindiki stated.
He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to implementing a Guaranteed Minimum Return (GMR) of Kes 100 per kilogram for coffee cherries, ensuring farmers receive stable and fair earnings.
During the meeting, the Deputy President emphasized the urgency of passing the Coffee Bill, 2023, and the Cooperatives Bill, 2024, which are currently before the Senate after approval by the National Assembly.
He urged lawmakers to fast-track their passage, noting that these legislative measures are central to sustaining reforms in the coffee sector.
“The Bills must be finalised as soon as possible because they are at the centre of the reforms. We encourage the Senate to process the Bills that will unlock the coffee reforms package,” he stated.
The government is also prioritizing access to quality seedlings, fertilizers, and other farm inputs through last-mile distribution, particularly subsidized fertilizers.
Additionally, plans are underway to waive accumulated debt for coffee cooperatives, modernize processing factories, and minimize post-harvest losses. The government is also intensifying efforts to promote Kenyan coffee in new international markets.
In a bid to expand coffee farming, the government is encouraging cultivation in non-traditional regions such as Rift Valley, Western, Nyanza, and Lower Eastern, which have shown potential for coffee production.
“We can have more production if we increase the acreage and the production per bush. We want to put more land under coffee and raise production of bushes from 2kg per bush to 10kg by 2027 as promised in our manifesto,” he noted.
Recently, the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organisation (KALRO) launched a national coffee planting campaign, targeting an increase in coffee seed production from 5,000 kg to 15,000 kg by 2027/28.
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