Coffee farmers in Gatũnyũ-Kigio, Gatanga Constituency, are making a comeback after years of abandoning the crop due to low earnings and unreliable markets.
The farmers say renewed confidence in the sector, driven by ongoing reforms, improved payments, and increased government support, has encouraged many to return to coffee cultivation. Extension services, subsidized farm inputs, and better access to markets have played a key role in reversing the decline.
Local cooperative societies in the area report a steady rise in coffee deliveries, signaling a gradual recovery of the once-thriving sector. Leaders within the cooperatives are now urging young people to embrace coffee farming, warning that the long-term sustainability of the industry depends on attracting a new generation of growers.
As part of the revival strategy, more than 30,000 coffee seedlings have been distributed to farmers across the region to support replanting efforts and boost future production.
Nyeri Town MP Duncan Mathenge attributed the turnaround to government-backed reforms and interventions in the coffee value chain.
“Everything must be financed from taxes even when borrowing, yet government support is delivering results as coffee farmers now access fertilizer reduced from Ksh7,000 to Ksh2,500, receive free seedlings, and benefit from improved price discovery at the Nairobi Coffee Exchange in Kenya. The balance shows reforms under President William Samoei Ruto are increasing productivity and putting more money into farmers’ pockets while managing economic realities,” he said.
Farmers in Gatũnyũ-Kigio remain optimistic that sustained reforms and continued support will stabilize incomes and restore coffee as a reliable source of livelihood in the region.
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