State mulls steps to expand coffee production

The national government is reviewing policies to ensure full liberalisation of marketing systems and improved coffee production.

Apart from the establishment of the Commodities Fund from which Sh2 billion has been disbursed to coffee growers, the Government is also restructuring key coffee institutions to address low production in the country.

According to Agriculture Principal Secretary Sicily Kariuki, reviewing of the policies in the coffee sub-sector is geared towards its expansion and crop productivity.

She expressed concern over the low coffee production in the country despite most regions being endowed with good soils and rain patterns that are favourable to the crop expansion.

In a speech read on her behalf by Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Authority Interim General Secretary Alfred Busolo, the PS said the Government has established an Integrated Coffee Productivity Project (ICPP) to unlock non-traditional coffee growing areas.

She said the ICPP, which is funded by the Government to the tune of Sh350 million, will offer a viable alternative to farmers while ensuring key economic activities continues to thrive.

Busolo represented the PS during the launch of the ICPP programme at Noigam primary school in Trans-Nzoia County where 10,000 coffee seedlings were distributed free of charge to local farmers on Friday. Trans Nzoia Governor Patrick Khaemba, who was accompanied by top county officials, flagged off the distribution aimed at expanding coffee production acreage by farmers in the region.

He said the county has favourable climatic conditions for production of coffee and urged farmers to diversify into coffee to better their living standards.

“There is need for formation of co-operative societies to assist farmers in enhancing agricultural activities and marketing of their produce,” said Mr Khaemba.

Under ICPP, a farmer can use dairy business to secure credit for coffee farming, unlike in the past where they were required to produce tangible assets as a security to access finance.