Busia: The government, through the Ministry of Cooperatives and Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) Development, has distributed 400,000 free coffee robusta seedlings with the aim of boosting coffee farming and production in Busia County. This initiative seeks to encourage local farmers to engage in coffee farming and help restore the country’s historical prominence in coffee production.
According to Kenya News Agency, Cabinet Secretary Wycliffe Oparanya, speaking at a farmers’ sensitization forum on coffee farming revival at Busia ATC, emphasized the government’s commitment to increasing coffee production in the county. He highlighted that farmers would receive the seedlings through their cooperatives and would also benefit from affordable fertilizers and appropriate pesticides. These measures are expected to enhance coffee production and improve the livelihoods of farmers.
Oparanya noted that Kenya was once a leading coffee producer since 1963, but the sector has faced challenges since the early 1990s. He pointed out that Ethiopia currently leads in Africa with approximately 400,000 metric tons of coffee produced, while Uganda holds the second position. He attributed the decline in Kenya’s coffee production to poor management of farmer cooperatives and unscrupulous brokers.
The government has introduced new regulations aimed at ensuring better management within the coffee sector. Oparanya urged farmers to embrace coffee farming, referring to it as “our gold,” and assured them of government support.
Last year, Kenya produced 51,000 metric tons of coffee, with Ethiopia producing over 400,000 metric tons. Uganda and Tanzania produced over 200,000 tons and 70,000 tons, respectively. Within the Western Kenya region, Busia County produced 39,580 kg of coffee during the 2023/2024 financial year, while neighboring counties also reported varying production levels.
The government plans to establish coffee milling plants in each of the 33 coffee-farming counties with support from the Kenya Planters Cooperative Union (KPCU). The new coffee bill aims to ensure farmers receive timely payments in dollar currency, reducing the waiting period from three months to just five days.
The government also plans to train two youths from each of Busia County’s 35 wards on coffee husbandry, who will then guide farmers on best practices in coffee cultivation. The KPCU will facilitate a ready market for farmers by transporting the produce to the Nairobi Stock Exchange.
Moreover, the government has allocated Sh8 billion as a cherry fund to assist small-scale farmers with advance payments at Sh40 per kg before auctioning the coffee.
Deputy Governor Arthur Odera confirmed the availability of land for a coffee research center in Busia County, which would also serve as a coffee nursery for the region. He emphasized the need for capacity building among the county’s 35 cooperatives and saccos to enhance coffee farming.
Busia Robusta Coffee Growers Chairman, Leonard Murai, praised the government’s initiative, noting that the seedlings would significantly improve coffee production in the county. He urged the government to continue its support, highlighting the increasing market prices for coffee.
Farmers Silas Manyasa and Jackline Wanzala shared their experiences, acknowledging the role of free seedlings in reviving coffee farming in the county and the elimination of brokers in the process. They expressed optimism about the future of coffee farming in Busia.
