Farmers Rejoice as Kenyan Govt Pledges to Revitalize Sub-Sector

The Kenyan government has reiterated its commitment to reviving the coffee sub-sector, which is a major source of livelihood for millions of Kenyans.

In a post on Twitter on Monday, Cabinet Secretary for Foreign Affairs Dr. Alfred Mutua said that the government is working to enhance the efforts to make the coffee sub-sector profitable to the Kenyan farmer.

“President Dr. @WilliamsRuto’s Government resolve to revive the coffee sub-sector remains steadfast and firm. We strive to enhance the efforts to make the sub-sector profitable to the Kenyan farmer as was previously,” Mutua said.

The CS made the remarks during a briefing session in Bogota, Colombia, on Monday, September 11, 2023, ahead of the official visit to Colombia by Deputy President H.E. Rigathi Gachagua to attend the Global Coffee Producers and Roasters Forum.

The forum, which is being held from September 12-14, 2023, will bring together coffee producers, roasters, traders, and other stakeholders from around the world to discuss ways to improve the coffee value chain.

The Kenyan government is expected to use the forum to promote Kenyan coffee and to explore ways to increase market access for Kenyan coffee farmers.

The coffee sub-sector is a major contributor to the Kenyan economy, providing employment to over 15 million people. However, the sector has been struggling in recent years due to a number of factors, including low coffee prices, climate change, and pests and diseases.

The Kenyan government has taken a number of steps to revive the coffee sub-sector, including providing financial assistance to coffee farmers, investing in research and development, and improving marketing and promotion.

The government is also working to address the challenges of climate change and pests and diseases.

The CS’s remarks are a positive sign that the government is committed to reviving the coffee sub-sector and improving the livelihoods of coffee farmers. The government’s efforts are being welcomed by coffee farmers, who are hopeful that the sector will once again become a major source of income for them.

In addition to the government’s efforts, there are a number of other initiatives underway to revive the coffee sub-sector. These include the formation of coffee farmer unions and cooperatives, the development of new coffee varieties that are resistant to pests and diseases, and the promotion of sustainable coffee production practices.

With the combined efforts of the government, coffee farmers, and other stakeholders, the coffee sub-sector has the potential to once again become a major economic driver for Kenya.