Government Allocates Sh500 Million to Revitalize Coffee Farming

Government Allocates Sh500 Million to Revitalize Coffee Farming

The government has set aside Sh500 million to breathe new life into Kenya’s coffee industry, Minister for Cooperative Unions and Small Business Development Wycliffe Oparanya has announced.

Speaking to members of the Nandi Coffee Farmers’ Cooperative, Oparanya said Kenya was once a continental leader in coffee production, but decades of decline have drastically reduced output.

“Before independence, Kenya was producing about 200,000 tonnes of coffee per year, leading Africa in both quality and quantity,” Oparanya said. “Today, we are producing only 50,000 tonnes. This decline must be reversed, and the government is determined to restore our position as a coffee powerhouse.”

The minister revealed that in addition to the Sh500 million revitalization fund, the government has allocated Sh9 billion for programs aimed at improving coffee farmers’ livelihoods. He noted that two critical bills designed to strengthen the coffee sector are already before the Senate and the National Assembly, and once passed, they will streamline operations in the industry and safeguard farmers’ interests.

Oparanya emphasized that the revival of coffee farming will involve modernizing farming techniques, increasing access to affordable inputs, and improving market access for farmers. “We are not just funding the sector—we are restructuring it so that farmers can earn more from their hard work,” he said.

New Kenya Planters Cooperative Union (KPCU) General Manager Timothy Mirugi assured farmers that they will soon have access to affordable fertilizer through their cooperatives. He said the government will distribute inputs directly to farmers via established cooperative societies to cut out middlemen and reduce costs.

“Farmers will no longer have to struggle with high input prices. The cooperative model ensures that support reaches the people who need it most,” Mirugi stated.

Nandi County Agriculture Executive Dr. Bernard Lagat hailed the government’s intervention, noting that Nandi is currently leading the country in the planting of coffee seedlings. He, however, called for further investment in research and innovation.

“We are proud that Nandi is at the forefront of coffee seedling production, but we need the government to establish a coffee research institute here. This will make it easier for farmers to access high-quality seedlings, conduct trials, and learn the latest agronomic practices,” Lagat said.

Other local leaders echoed the call for a research facility, saying it would help Kenya compete with top coffee-producing nations by improving productivity and quality.

Farmers who attended the meeting expressed optimism about the new funding and legislative reforms. Many said they were ready to increase acreage under coffee if they could be assured of better prices, reliable markets, and consistent government support.

The minister concluded by urging all stakeholders to work together to restore coffee farming to its former glory. “If we cooperate—farmers, cooperatives, government agencies, and buyers—Kenya can once again be a global leader in coffee,” Oparanya said.

The revitalization program is expected to roll out in phases beginning later this year, with priority given to counties where coffee farming has strong potential for growth.