Two separate delegations from Murang’a County are set to embark on international trade missions aimed at opening new markets for the region’s avocado, coffee, and tea in the United States and China.
Deputy Governor Stephen Munania will lead a team to the United States later this week, where they plan to engage with various investors in a bid to secure new export opportunities for Murang’a’s coffee and avocado produce. The delegation is expected to hold meetings in Boston and Washington, D.C., over the weekend.
Meanwhile, Governor Irungu Kang’ata will head a separate delegation to China next week with a similar mission. Kang’ata, speaking in Murang’a, said there is a growing demand for quality coffee in China.
“In China, we will search for a market for both avocado and coffee. Murang’a currently is leading in the production of avocado in the country, and getting direct markets for our farmers will bring increased returns,” he stated.
Kang’ata highlighted China’s potential as a major consumer market, noting that the country’s vast population and increasing interest in coffee culture present a significant opportunity for Kenyan exporters.
“China, with a population of 1.4 billion people, is the second most populous nation globally and has recently started adopting the coffee-taking culture,” he said. “The high population may turn the country into one of the biggest coffee markets globally.”
Coffee, tea, and avocado remain Murang’a’s primary cash crops, with thousands of residents depending on them for their livelihoods. The governor confirmed that farmer representatives, selected by cooperative societies, will join both delegations to assist in identifying favourable markets.
“Farmers representatives in the delegation have been nominated by cooperative societies; they will help in getting the best markets from the two countries,” he opined.
Currently, Kenya’s coffee exports are predominantly destined for Belgium, the United States, Germany, South Korea, and Sweden, with most of the sales conducted through the Nairobi Coffee Exchange.
Governor Kang’ata also outlined several initiatives by his administration aimed at boosting coffee production, noting a steady increase in the commodity’s price in recent years. He pointed out that while Murang’a previously trailed counties like Kirinyaga, Nyeri, Kiambu, and Bomet in coffee earnings, it has now risen to second place behind Kirinyaga.
“The county has also been leading in the tea sector and raked in Sh17 billion in revenue last year while producing 33 per cent of the avocados exported from the country,” he added.
Following the overseas visits, the county government plans to host an investment conference in June, aimed at bringing together manufacturers and agricultural processors to explore local opportunities.
“This conference will be held in June. We expect participants to include those engaged in value addition of the various agricultural products,” Kang’ata said.
The governor urged farmers to scale up their production efforts to take full advantage of the support being provided by both county and national governments.
Murang’a’s agricultural sector is organized through various entities: the avocado sector is represented by a farmers’ association, tea is managed by factories affiliated with the Kenya Tea Development Agency (KTDA), and the coffee industry is coordinated through cooperative societies.
