The government has intensified efforts to expand coffee farming in the Nyanza region as part of a national initiative aimed at increasing farmers’ incomes and meeting Kenya’s ambitious coffee production targets.
Officials say the coffee revival programme seeks to help farmers in counties including Kisumu, Siaya and Migori transition from low-income farming activities to coffee production, which offers better returns through export markets.
According to the government, many farmers in the region have traditionally relied on crops and livestock that generate modest incomes, leaving households vulnerable to economic shocks.
Under the initiative, authorities are registering more coffee farmers and organizing them into cooperatives to strengthen production and improve access to markets. Farmers are also being encouraged to join Savings and Credit Cooperative Organisations (SACCOs) to enhance access to affordable financing.
The programme further provides support across the entire coffee value chain, including the distribution of seedlings, agronomic training, production support and market linkages to ensure farmers maximise returns from the crop.
Government officials said engagement forums have already been held in Kakamega and Kisumu counties to mobilise farmers and accelerate the rollout of the programme.
The expansion of coffee farming forms part of the government’s broader strategy to revive Kenya’s coffee industry and increase national production.
Officials expressed confidence that growing farmer participation in regions such as Nyanza will contribute significantly to achieving President William Ruto’s target of producing at least 150,000 tonnes of coffee annually by the 2028/2029 season.
The government believes expanding coffee cultivation into non-traditional growing areas will not only increase export earnings but also improve household incomes, create employment opportunities and strengthen rural economies across the region.
Read: Cooperative Societies to Drive Reforms in Kenya’s lethargic Coffee Sector
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