Farmers In Kenya's Laikipia County Turn From Livestock To Coffee – CoffeeTalk

Kenya’s Laikipia county, traditionally known for livestock rearing, is now embracing the cultivation of highly-priced coffee to improve its economic fortunes. Farmers like Peter Kimani have dedicated one and a quarter-acre of land to coffee farming, citing the good returns and the ability to grow coffee at altitudes between 1000m and 2000m. Kimani has nearly a thousand Batian variety coffee bushes and has never looked back.

The county government has been at the forefront of sensitizing farmers to venture into coffee farming, distributing seedlings in six wards. The target is to fetch sh10 billion from coffee farming in the next four years, helping many families out of poverty. With an acreage of land under coffee, every family take home will be a million shillings. Coffee farming will create job opportunities for the youth and there is a ready market for the produce.

Laikipia Governor Joshua Irungu said that promoting coffee farming would help eradicate perennial conflicts between farmers and herders who graze their farms illegally during dry seasons since coffee bushes are not edible by livestock. The state is keen on boosting coffee production and earnings, with the country earning billions of dollars in foreign currency from coffee production since 1970. However, with a decline in production and earnings, the government is employing a three-year plan to increase acreage under coffee, including giving out coffee seedlings to farmers, training, and marketing.

NKPCU managing director Timothy Mirugi stated that Kenya produces 49 tonnes of coffee annually. The government has an ambitious plan of attaining 200,000 tonnes by the year 2028. This year alone, KPCU aims to give out 500,000 coffee seedlings to farmers in Laikipia. The county targets to grow 10 million coffee bushes by 2027.

Data from the county’s department of agriculture shows that the number of coffee farmers has increased from 398 to 1,117, with Batian and Ruiru 11 being the most common varieties grown.

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