How coffee reforms have transformed the lives of 700k farmers
Government reforms in Kenya's coffee subsector have led to increased earnings for farmers and improved market access. By removing cartels and implementing new regulations, the administration has helped farmers achieve record-high payments for their crops.
Why it matters
The transformation of the coffee industry directly impacts the livelihoods of hundreds of thousands of farmers and contributes to the national economy.
Members of the Sailo youth group in Kipkelion East, Kericho County, collect harvested coffee cherries /KNA
EDWARD Njoka is passionate about coffee. When some growers were abandoning the crop due to high costs and poor prices, Njoka worked patiently on his farm in Baragwi, Kirinyaga county, increasing his acreage from one to 10.
His patience and dedication paid off and now pay him handsomely. In the last season, Njoka harvested 46,000 kilos from eight acres. The c rops in the remaining two acres have not matured. Sometimes he hires as many as 70 workers.
“My experience as a coffee farmer over the years is that it is difficult. It is not an easy task because, first of all, the cost [of production] is too high,” Njoka told the Star .
He cited other challenges such as price fluctuation, climate change and lack of enough agronomists to advise and support farmers.
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