.Meru County farmers have received a major boost after the government delivered 160,000 certified coffee seedlings to farmers in a fresh push to revive the once-vibrant sector in the region.
Speaking today Saturday 15th ,at Meru New Kenya Planters Cooperative Union branch, (KPCU) the Cooperatives Principal Secretary Patrick Kilemi said the move is part of an ambitious national coffee revival programme aimed at reclaiming Kenya’s position among the world’s top coffee producers.
Kilemi described the distribution as a transformative moment for Meru farmers, noting that the government’s renewed focus on coffee is anchored on the crop’s immense global value.
“Coffee is a five-hundred-billion-dollar commodity globally and is second to oil as the world’s highest earning product so Meru has the right climate and potential to regain its former glory in coffee production” he said.
Addressing farmers during the distribution exercise the PS emphasized the high certified seedlings are expected to be planted during the ongoing rainy season.
Meru governor Isaac Mutuma rallied the farmers to embrace growing the crop to boost the economy of the region and that of the country .
“This is a golden opportunity for farmers to rebuild their coffee fortunes. Coffee remains one of the most rewarding lucrative enterprise if properly managed can significantly uplift household incomes and Meru is well placed to lead in its revival” he told farmers.
The PS further revealed that the Ministry of Cooperatives is rolling out a robust reforms meant to breathe new life into the coffee industry after years of declining production.
He noted the reforms include restructuring governance systems, stabilizing farmer earnings, expanding market access and restoring confidence among growers who had abandoned the crop.
He added the revival drive is a joint effort involving the national and county governments and other value-chain stakeholders adding the aim is to triple national coffee production from the current average of about 50,000 metric tonnes annually to 150,000 metric tonnes by 2028.
He added to support this expansion, the government has injected KSh 8.5 billion into the Coffee Cherry Advance Revolving Fund, with an additional KSh 4 billion disbursed in 2024 alone
Further Kilemi noted another key pillar of the reforms is seedling distribution programme that targets more than 200,000 farmers across 33 coffee-growing counties.
He lamented that the initiative aims to deliver over 20 million high yield, disease-resistant seedlings to boost output and rejuvenate old abandoned plantations.
At the same time he noted the ministry is focused in steming out the influence of cartels and middlemen by separating the roles of millers, brokers and buyers through a Direct Settlement System (DSS) to ensure transparency and guarantee that least 80 percent of coffee proceeds go directly into farmers’ accounts.
“Efforts are ongoing to secure better international markets with the government already engaging buyers in Europe and seeking global brand protection through the registration of Kenya Coffee with the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) to enhance visibility, authenticity and competitiveness in global markets,’ he added.
This follows after last week through the county government latest distributed 27,000 coffee seedlings and 35,000 avocado seedlings in the area.
“We thank the President for standing with our farmers as a county, we are working hand in hand with the national government to transform livelihoods and restore Meru as a top agricultural hub” said the governor.
The county boss however called on the government to tighten security in coffee factories over the rising cases of coffee theft.
