Kenya’s Makueni County aims for 2.5 metric tonnes of coffee production in two years

KENYA – The County Government of Makueni in Kenya will distribute 26,000 coffee seedlings to farmers in an effort to increase coffee production to 2.5 metric tonnes in the next two years.

The County Governor, Mutula Kilonzo Jr., flagged off the first consignment of 8,000 seedlings, adding that the remaining seedlings will be distributed by the end of this week.

The seedlings are distributed through farmers’ Cooperatives Societies like Kikima, Kithangathini, Masokani, and Kithumani across the county.

“We had agreed with farmers that through this plan, we shall increase coffee production to 2.5 metric tonnes. We started this plan last year, and I am happy farmers have given a good report that they have 100,000 kilos of quality coffee,” Mutula said.

In this regard, the governor urged farmers in the coffee-growing areas to embrace planting more crops, saying there is a ready market abroad. He added that the price of coffee currently stands at Sh87 per kilo, which will help farmers earn more income to fight poverty.

He also urged the Department of Agriculture to intensify efforts in educating farmers using experts to ensure they are empowered with knowledge that will help them enhance coffee production in the county.

Coffee farming has been susceptible to a number of challenges, but the biggest share of dropping productivity is from aging coffee trees, some of which are over 50 years old.

The high costs associated with replacing these trees and maintaining old ones are burdening smallholder farmers, contributing to a decline in coffee production.

“So we need to urge farmers to plant more coffee because we have a ready market abroad. People cannot stop drinking coffee; this is something that can earn farmers an income,” Mutula noted.

The high costs of production inputs, including fertilizers and pesticides, coupled with expensive labor and processing, have further diminished Kenya’s coffee competitiveness on the global stage.

However, the governor disclosed that he was working closely with the national government through the National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) to ensure coffee farmers are provided with subsidized fertilizer.

In revitalizing this important sector, the government has waived historical debts owed by coffee farmers nationwide amounting to Sh6.8 billion.

The Cabinet directed coffee cooperatives, saccos, and other creditors to submit to the Ministry for Cooperatives, within seven days, the list of all farmers who owe them money along with all the supporting documents for verification and processing of payment.

To further bolster the coffee production value chain, the Cabinet said the New Kenya Planters Cooperative Union (KPCU) will undergo modernization in accordance with international best practices.

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