The Kenyan government plans to distribute at least 500 million coffee seedlings to farmers this year in a renewed push to revive the country’s coffee sector.
Cooperatives, Micro and Small Enterprises (MSMEs) Cabinet Secretary Wycliffe Oparanya made the announcement at a coffee reforms sensitisation forum held at Urru Stadium in Tigania West Constituency, Meru County.
“We already have the seedlings, including 300 million from Kenya Planters Cooperative Union and some more 200 million sourced from Uganda. We want farmers to increase acreages of coffee and in return increase our production,” said Mr Oparanya.
The Cabinet Secretary urged primary coffee cooperatives to collaborate with their respective county governments to submit detailed proposals specifying the varieties of seedlings they require.
“Distribution will only be done through primary cooperatives, and that is why we want them to write proposals to know their specific need, since we have a variety of seedlings,” he added.
Responding to calls for enhanced support services during the forum, Oparanya announced that the Ministry would deploy at least two extension officers, one male and one female, per ward across all 47 counties, dedicated solely to coffee farming.
“The issue of extension officers lies with the County Governments, but since I understand the issues, they are facing, we have decided to employ these special officers who will include one male and female from all the wards, so that we can improve the state of coffee farming in the country,” he said.
He noted that the officers would receive training at the Kenya Planters Cooperative Union (KPCU) to equip them with the necessary skills to support coffee farmers effectively.
“The government is committed to implementing various reforms to revive coffee farming, just as promised by President William Ruto during his campaigns. You should not listen to propaganda which is peddled by those who have been swindling your money all along,” Mr Oparanya told farmers.
Principal Secretary for the State Department for Cooperatives, Patrick Kilemi, said the programme targets annual distribution of 20 million coffee seedlings across all growing regions as part of efforts to boost national output.
He indicated that both the Coffee Research Institute (CRI) and the New KPCU will play key roles in producing high-yielding coffee seedlings.
“Last year, Kenya produced 50,000 metric tons, while Uganda produced 400,000 metric tons and Ethiopia produced 750,000 metric tons of coffee,” said Mr Kilemi. “We want our farmers to plant recommended coffee seedlings as we target to increase our production by more than ten times.”
The Principal Secretary attributed Kenya’s low yields to ageing coffee bushes, pointing out that a coffee plant remains optimally productive for only about 20 years.
