The crop diversification message championed by the County government of Uasin Gishu over the years to uplift farmers’ living standards has succeeded since many farmers took the initiative and embraced the high-value crops and are now benefiting from the exchange.
According to County Coffee Officer Nicholas Maritim, there are farmers who embraced coffee farming back in 2017 estimated at 1,300 who are currently practicing coffee farming in about 1, 200 acres as per the statistics of September this year.
He was speaking at a forum organized by the Department of Agriculture Agribusiness Livestock and Fisheries at AIC Cheplelachbei in Megun Ward, Kapseret Sub-County aimed at strengthening the capacities of coffee farmers. He was accompanied by Moses Wandwasi from New Kenya Planters Cooperative Union (New KPCU) Regional Field Office.
He expressed the County’s commitment to supporting coffee farmers to ensure they reap maximum benefits. Maritim urged Coffee farmers to utilize government subsidies available through New KPCU like Coffee Cherry Advance Revolving Fund, farm inputs subsidy, farm input advance, and Parchment advance.
