The Kenya National Farmers’ Federation (KENAFF) has welcomed the partnership between the National and Migori County Governments to boost coffee production and improve farmers’ livelihoods in the region.
Speaking in Migori town, Lake Region KENAFF Chairperson Peter Chacha said the county currently produces about 1.8 million kilogrammes of coffee annually, but the ambition is to scale up production to five billion kilogrammes by 2029.
Migori County has 11 coffee cooperatives, eight of them in Kuria and according to Chacha, if more farmers from other sub-counties can be encouraged to venture into the sector, the county can produce the best coffee in Kenya.
He thanked Migori Governor Ochilo Ayacko for the support extended to farmers so far, but called for deeper collaboration between the county and national governments to address gaps in the sector.
In particular, he urged authorities led by the New Kenya Planters Co-operative Union (NKPCU) to help establish local nurseries for seedlings, since farmers currently depend on supplies from the government that are inadequate to meet demand.
“Coffee seedlings from the government are not enough. If the county and national governments can help us to establish our cooperative nurseries, we can multiply production and maximise coffee yields,” Chacha said.
He disclosed that in terms of marketing, many farmers still sell their produce across the border in Tanzania due to fear of exploitation by cartels in the country.
The official, however, noted that with government reforms like better pricing that currently stands at between sh110–120 per kilogramme, farmers’ confidence will be restored.
Chacha reaffirmed KENAFF’s commitment to support farmers through training, cooperative strengthening, crop insurance, and advocacy to ensure coffee farming once again becomes a profitable venture in Migori.
Earlier the Cabinet Secretary for Cooperatives and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) Development, Wycliffe Oparanya, while speaking to coffee farmers in Ntimaru, said that the revival of the coffee sector in the country could be accelerated if more counties ventured into its farming.
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