How Farmer Training Programs Are Strengthening Kenyan Coffee Production

A look at farmer training programs in Uasin Gishu County, Kenya, where producers learn all things coffee: from cultivation to navigating the coffee market.

BY OGLAH MOROGO
BARISTA MAGAZINE ONLINE

Featured image: Coffee farmers apply newly learned techniques during a practical field demonstration. All photos courtesy of University of Eldoret unless otherwise noted.

What to know:

• Various organizations have increased funding for coffee farmer training programs in Kenya, providing producers with the expertise needed to grow coffee sustainably and better navigate the coffee market
• One training program, arranged by the Uasin Gishu County government’s Department of Agriculture and the University of Eldoret, led coffee producers through a variety of topics, including crop management, protecting coffee plants from pests and diseases, and what affects coffee prices
• A sign language interpreter was present for the training, helping make the workshops accessible to Deaf coffee producers

Around the world, Kenya is known for producing high-quality coffee with its signature rich, fruity flavors and bright acidity. The East African country’s climate and high altitudes work well for cultivating specialty coffee—but farmers’ expertise and experience are just as crucial as these environmental factors. Therefore, many Kenyan coffee farms are implementing training for coffee farmers at various stages of the value chain, to provide producers with a clear understanding of how to manage their coffee, from cultivation to market sales.

In recent years, initiatives for farmer training have received increasing support from various research institutes, business organizations, cooperatives, universities, and county governments. These training programs offer better farm management practices and enhanced post-harvest handling techniques that can result in higher-quality coffee, in addition to assisting coffee producers in understanding what specialty coffee buyers desire.

Accessible training improves coffee quality

The best farmer training programs combine field practice sessions with classroom presentations. Instead of focusing just on the theoretical side, participants acquire useful skills that they may use right away in their farming. 

One example was a one-day coffee farming workshop held in Illula, Ainabkoi Sub-County, Uasin Gishu County. The training was organized by the county government’s Department of Agriculture and the University of Eldoret (UOE)’s Outreach and International Students Centre (OISC). The workshop was held after a number of organizations, including the Ambassadors Disabled Farmers Group—an organization in Uasin Gishu County dedicated to empowering farmers with disabilities—requested accessible and practical training to help local coffee producers.

The program brought together 61 participants, including coffee farmers, university staff, and county agricultural officers. To ensure everyone could fully take part, including members of the Ambassadors Disabled Farmers Group, a sign language interpreter was present throughout the training. This effort highlighted the importance of making coffee education accessible and inclusive for all producers.

Nurturing coffee at the nursery level

A successful coffee farm starts with healthy seedlings, and during the University of Eldoret training, farmers learned nursery management practices to raise strong seedlings with healthy root systems. They also received training on crop establishment, including site selection, proper spacing, planting, and early field management. These practices help coffee trees grow well, stay healthy, and produce high-quality cherries over the long term.

Crop management for better coffee quality

The care given to the trees during their entire growing period, not only during harvesting, is crucial to producing high-quality coffee. Coffee farmers received training on canopy management techniques like trimming, which improves airflow, increases sunlight, and promotes healthier cherry output.

Another area of concentration was the provision of sufficient nutrients. Improving soil fertility and applying fertilizer in a balanced manner helped grow healthy trees and produce beans. Farmers learned that the right amount of nutrients, along with proper timing of fertilizer application, will lower input costs while producing cherries of higher grade. 

Protecting coffee plants from pests & diseases

The biggest issue facing Kenyan coffee farmers is still crop protection. During the training sessions, participants learned how to identify pests and diseases early on and implement integrated pest management strategies before problems worsen on their farms. Preventing damage from insects and diseases is crucial to maintaining both quantity and quality. Defects that would lower the coffee grade during milling and tasting are rare in healthy cherries. Farmers learned that preventative techniques can help minimize the use of chemicals in farming, while also assisting farmers in protecting their investment.

Understanding the coffee market

There are numerous ways to produce coffee that tastes amazing, but this is only a small portion of what coffee producers must understand. In addition, producers need to know how the market views quality. Through the training, farmers were able to learn more about the coffee value chain, quality standards, and market considerations that affect coffee prices, thanks to the University of Eldoret’s coffee marketing program.

Equipped with this knowledge, farmers may make better decisions during production and when managing their produce after harvest, by knowing how coffee is marketed from the field to exporters, roasters, and ultimately consumers. The requirement for producers to have market knowledge has increased as specialty coffee purchasers continue to look for traceable, high-quality coffee lots.

Learning from experienced trainers

The training was jointly led by Dr. Jonah Ng’eno of the University of Eldoret’s School of Agriculture and John Ng’etich, a seasoned coffee farmer and member of the university’s finance department. While Dr. Ng’eno introduced the research point of view, John Ng’etich offered a hands-on farmer’s view of production. “The purpose (of the training was) to bridge scientific research with farmers’ knowledge on the field, to enable a change towards decisions that will benefit both productivity and coffee quality,” said Dr. Ng’eno during the training.

OISC Coordinator, Dr. Heka Kamau, highlighted the need for making sure university research reflects the realities and needs of farmers. “Working closely with farmers and communities makes research more meaningful and engaging while helping turn research findings into practical solutions for the coffee sector,” said Dr. Kamau in his final remarks.

Knowledge: Kenyan coffee producers’ greatest asset

By teaching improved farming techniques and coffee quality control, farmer training initiatives like the one hosted by the University of Eldoret are increasing coffee production throughout Kenya, with farmers seeing more of the benefits. As market demands and climate circumstances continue to change, continuous learning is creating more resilient farming communities.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Oglah Morogo is a freelance writer and emerging coffee farmer based in Ainabkoi Constituency, Uasin Gishu County, Kenya. A third-generation farmer, she combines inherited agricultural knowledge with a growing passion for coffee and commercial farming of wheat and maize.

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