Trans Nzoia County Brewing Success with Boost to Coffee Industry
Trans Nzoia County’s coffee industry is poised for growth, thanks to the implementation of a series of measures aimed at boosting productivity and profitability. While the county is already known for producing high-quality coffee, low production levels have been a significant challenge, with farmers producing less than their potential.
Speaking on Tuesday after meeting a team from Solidaridad East Africa and Central Africa and the Ministry of foreign Affairs of Netherlands who called on him in his office, Governor George Natembeya revealed plans by his administration to address these challenges by hiring agronomists and agriculture extension officers, providing farmers with subsidized coffee seedlings and farm inputs, supporting farmers with seed capital, modernizing factories of coffee cooperatives, fixing water shortage challenges in coffee factories, and setting up a coffee milling plant.
Furthermore, the Practice for Change (PFC) project, implemented by Solidaridad, has played a vital role in supporting coffee farmers in the county. The program focuses on good practices, strategic business ecosystems, enabling policy environment, and market uptake, and has trained over 1500 farmers on good agricultural practices, established a 50,000 capacity coffee nursery, and set up four demo plots. The project has also facilitated over 50 coffee farmers’ exchange visits and supported the establishment of 10 youth-owned coffee nurseries.
The initiatives have led to an increase in the uptake of coffee seedlings, an improvement in the management of coffee cooperatives, and a rise in payment to farmers per kilo of cherries. Governor Natembeya invited partners to collaborate directly with the county, stating that the county had the capacity to manage its affairs. He also indicated that his administration would create a friendly atmosphere for all businesses seeking to invest in the region, including hiring extension workers to train farmers.
County CEC for agriculture, Phanice Khatundi, noted a mindset change among coffee farmers, who are now embracing coffee farming more than ever before. She also highlighted the success of the PFC project, which paved the way for the Reclaim Sustainability (RS) program, which focused on inclusivity and involving more women and youth in coffee farming.
The partnership between the county government and Solidaridad is expected to continue to yield more benefits for farmers and the region as a whole. Solidaridad East Africa and Central Africa senior project manager, Betty Musembi, said the organization has already laid out plans to assist coffee farmers in the county to boost coffee production. Ms. Heske Verburg, Managing Director – Solidaridad Europe, highlighted that the county was the new frontier in coffee production, with many farmers transitioning from maize farming to coffee farming. The projects would benefit more than 100,000 farmers throughout Kenya, with 5,000 to 7,000 in Trans Nzoia County over the next five years.
With the increased productivity and quality of coffee, she said, the county is set to play a critical role in promoting food security, job creation, poverty eradication, and sustainable environmental practices. The initiatives will empower women and youth groups to advocate for their involvement in coffee farming while reviving the Coffee Sector Working Group to provide further support.
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