Strategies to increase coffee production on the move as Oparanya appoints a coffee revival steering committee

The Mountain Journal

editor@themountainjournal.co.ke

 The government has appointed a  national and county  steering  committee charged with formulating strategies  on revival of coffee focusing on increasing coffee production.

In two years, the committee will work towards introducing coffee in the non-traditional areas,  and increase the same in the traditional counties.

The coffee production stands are 50,000 metric tonnes with the projection to increase the same to 102,000 metric tonnes by year 2028.

 The 15 man committee was appointed  Cooperative Cabinet Secretary Wycliffe Oparanya through a Kenya Gazette dated October 31, will be chaired by former Senator Njeru Ndwiga.

Ndwiga is also a former Cabinet Minister who handled the Cooperative docket during the Mwai Kibaki’s regime

 It has two vice chairpersons Daniel Chemno, the Chairman at the New KPCU (Ist Vice Chairman) and James Wachihi( Agriculture CEC Nyeri (the second vice chairperson).

Among the members of the national committee include the Presidential advisor of coffee Henry Kinyua, New KPCU Managing Director Timothy Mirugi, Coffee Research Institute Director Dr Elijah Gichuru, Cooperative Commissioner David Obonyo.

The terms of the outfit  are outlined,  to  develop  and oversee implementation  of strategies  to revive  coffee production in the traditional coffee growing areas,  and mobilise resources needed  to support  coffee cooperatives towards the increased production.

“ Ensure availability of  coffee seedlings per variety in the country,and inclusion  of youth and women in coffee  cooperative societies,” read part of the Kenya gazette.

 In the past three months, New KPCU has been distributing coffee seedlings in the counties in Rift Valley and  Mt Kenya regions,  being a strategy  to distribute more than 20 million seedlings annually in the financial year 2023/2025 and 2025/2026.

 In the coffee year, 2024/2025, Kenya farmers through the Nairobi Coffee Exchange (NCE) earned Sh36.5 billion after the auction of 673,844 bags less than 693,610 bags of the previous year 2023/2024. 

 Coffee is grown in 33 counties with plans to introduce farming in non-traditional areas where coffee can do well Rift Valley, Western and Nyanza regions.

 At the county level,  a seven man committee will be formed chaired by the county commissioner with members drawn, County Executive  for Agriculture, County New KPCU representative, Chief officers for agriculture and cooperatives, and  officials  from the societies have been listed to champion the revival programme.