The Mountain Journal
Murang’a coffee farmers will get free lime to assist in reduction of the acidity from the soils in a strategy to increase coffee production in four years.
With billions of shillings paid to farmers after the global market is attracted to Kenyan coffee, Murang’a is set to increase production in a venture advised by the experts to lower the level of acidity.
After research by experts, the soils were found to be acidic after lengthy use of synthetic fertilizers.
The local Governor Irungu Kang’ata met with leaders in the coffee cooperative societies saying through the use of the lime and farmers’ education on coffee, Murang’a is set to earn more from coffee farming.
He emphasized that his administration projects on increasing coffee revenue from Sh3.2 billion to Sh 5 billion and to 12 billion by the year 2030.
“The county government, through the recommendation by the experts, will distribute lime to farmers,” said Kang’ata when he addressed the coffee society leaders.
The farmers are expected to indicate the size of their lands they manage, area under coffee and number of coffee trees.
Kang’ata accompanied by Agriculture CEC Kimani Mugo and his Chief Officer Dr Apollo Maina encouraged the coffee farmers to double their efforts in increasing the production.
Murang’a Cooperatives and Societies sponsors farmers on a benchmarking tour to the established coffee farms in Kirinyaga and Nyeri counties to help them understand the coffee business and effective management of the coffee trees.
The farms in Rung’eto and Baragwi cooperative societies in Kirinyaga and estates in Mathira, Nyeri are among the most visited by Murang’a farmers.
John Chege, a leading agronomist, said use of lime will play a significant role in increasing coffee production in Murang’a County as it has been demonstrated in a few cooperative societies that have been using it.
Chege said lime neutralizes the soils after use of the synthetic fertlisers for long to enable the plants to consume nutrients, among them calcium and magnesium ready available in soils.
“The lime is applied once in a year during the dry period,” said Mr Chege adding that farmers who have used it have a testimony on improved production.
Nahason Chege, the chairman at Gatagua Agro marketing cooperative society, admits that his farmers are aware of the importance of the lime.
“ Annually the cooperative society procure and distribute lime and distribution to the farmers, and we have been posting results based on increased production and better payment,” said Chege.
Godfrey Kanyiri, the chairman at Kahuhia Farmers Cooperative Society says farmers use lime with increased production, and quality cherry.
“ We are thankful to the county for the gesture to support the farmers with distribution of the much needed input to our coffee farms,” said Mr Kanyiri.
Kanyiri adds that at Wanjengi factory, coffee experts are invited to speak to the farmers to help them understand the concept of increased coffee production.