MACHAKOS, Kenya – Coffee remains one of the high-value cash crops, and the global demand for exceptional flavours and high-quality beans by coffee connoisseurs keeps growing.
It is against this background that coffee farmers across Machakos County continue to inch closer to securing the best-ever prices for the black gold.
A recent spot check in the area by News 9 Kenya has established that Governor Wavinya Ndeti has invested heavily in reviving coffee factories and streamlining the operations in cooperative societies to foster quality high-yield coffee and better management while eliminating exploitation by rogue officials.
In early January 2024, Governor Ndeti announced that local coffee farmers would begin receiving payment from the Coffee Cherry Advance Revolving Fund launched by then-Cabinet Secretary for Co-operatives and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development, Simon Chelugui, in Kangundo.
“I have also appealed for our coffee farmers to be given debt waivers worth Sh603 million to start on a clean slate,” the county boss announced.
Governor Ndeti said that her administration will continue working with the National Government to improve productivity in the coffee sector.
“My government remains committed to transforming the livelihoods of our people through strategic agricultural initiatives,” said Governor Ndeti.
Through the National Agriculture Value Chain Development Programme (NAVCDP), News 9 Kenya has established that the devolved unit has taken a significant step in strengthening coffee production.
How the enterprise development grants support farmers
Already, Machakos County has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with at least six Coffee Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) across the county.
To support the farmers, the county government has further disbursed Sh55.82 million in enterprise development grants to these FPOs.
“This funding supports the modernisation of coffee factories, improving the quality of coffee produced, and ultimately increasing farmers’ incomes,” added the county chief.
Governor Ndeti insists that her administration is determined to boost agricultural productivity, drive economic growth, and enhance food security.
“Our farmers are at the heart of this journey, and my government will continue empowering them to ensure Machakos remains a leader in Kenya’s coffee sector,” she explained.
Coffee remains one of the high-value cash crops, and the global demand for exceptional flavours and high-quality beans by coffee connoisseurs keeps growing.
The investment in a modern beam parchment store at Kaliluni Coffee factory in Machakos County is a testament to the county government’s commitment to making the local coffee more competitive in the markets.
Where is coffee farming majorly practised in Machakos County
The coffee factory has over 3000 members. Injection of value addition translates to a benefit ripple effect to many households.
“I wish to remind our coffee farmers that our bigger goal is to protect the quality of every coffee bean that comes from our farms. Well-preserved and high-quality beans will always fetch our farmers better prices in the markets,” stated Governor Ndeti.
News 9 Kenya knows that in Machakos County, coffee is grown in four sub-counties, namely Kangundo, Machakos Central, Kathiani and Matungulu.
Over the years, production levels have gone down in the once-famous coffee-growing giant in the country.
Most coffee farmers in Machakos have been complaining about dwindling prices and the high cost of production.
In the last two decades or so, a few farmers have lost hope and shifted into other agricultural activities.
However, this now appears to be something of the past after representatives from all the coffee cooperatives domiciled in Machakos began engaging with other stakeholders in the industry.
The eye-opening engagements have been giving farmers an opportunity to deliberate on how they will inject life into the sleeping giant.
Huge debts and a lack of farm inputs, which led to low productivity, were cited as some of the main challenges that have crippled the coffee industry in Machakos.
Some of the areas the county government of Machakos, under the leadership of Governor Ndeti, is offering support to the farmers are the provision of coffee seedlings to farmers, capacity building, market linkages for better prices, collaboration with the national government for affordable fertilisers, and also getting youth and women into coffee growing.
Why global partnerships play a critical role in this journey
The county government further emphasises the importance of unity, proper management of coffee societies, scaling up of production, value addition and marketing of our coffee products at better prices.
To increase productivity and acceptance in the global markets, the use of organic products has been cited as a key factor in the coffee sector.
Machakos County partners with Bharat Bio East Africa Limited, an indian firm specialising in organic products.
The farmers have also raised several concerns, key among them insecurity in the coffee factories, a lack of water in most factories, poor road networks, and a shortage of extension officers, among others.
But the regional government has promised to fast-track the installation of floodlights in all the factories.
In the coming days, the dreams of coffee farmers in Machakos are bound to come true, and they might end up enjoying good prices like their counterparts in Brazil, India and other major coffee-growing regions around the world.
Moving forward, empowering coffee farmers in the region will activate direct and indirect job creation in the coffee value chain.
News 9 Kenya has confirmed that this move will also support the livelihoods of residents and the growing peri-urban population across the county.
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