Gov't injects Ksh.500 million to revive coffee farming

The government has unveiled a bold plan to expand coffee farming across regions as part of a national revival effort for the once-thriving sector.

Over Ksh.500 million has been allocated to support smallholder farmers through seedling distribution, with an additional Ksh.8 billion Cherry Fund available to help farmers scale up production.

Cooperatives and MSMEs Cabinet Secretary Wycliffe Oparanya, speaking in Laikipia County during a sensitization meeting, said the initiative targets counties with favourable conditions for coffee farming.

He added that the government will support farmers by addressing genuine debts and introducing modern technologies to increase output.

The three-year programme aims to reclaim Kenya’s position in the global coffee market, following years of decline that saw the country overtaken by Ethiopia, Uganda, Côte d'Ivoire, and Tanzania.

He also said, "Serikali mwaka huu imetoa shilingi milioni mia tano, kwa hii project, tutafute miche tupeane kwa wakulima wapande kahawa, hio ndio another project ambayo imepangwa, baas na tunaendelea hivyo, hii ni mkutano yetu ya kumi na tano, tangu tuanze hii mambo ya kahawa na tumepanga kuenda kila county Kenya hii zile ambazo zinakuza, zile ambazo zina possiblity ya kukuza kahawa. "