The Lower Eastern Times Opening The Third Eye
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Makueni Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr. has unveiled a plan to increase the county’s coffee production to 2.5 metric tonnes within the next two years.
The initiative, launched in collaboration with local farmers, aims to strengthen Makueni’s coffee industry and improve the livelihoods of farmers.
“We had agreed with farmers that through this plan, we shall increase coffee production to 2.5 metric tonnes. We started this plan last year, and I am happy to report that farmers have made impressive progress, with 100,000 kilos of quality coffee harvested,” Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr. stated.
To support the initiative, the government will distribute 26,000 coffee seedlings to local farmers through various cooperative societies, including Kikima, Kithangathini, Masokani, and Kithumani. The first batch of 8,000 seedlings has already been flagged off, with the remaining seedlings set to be distributed next week.
The governor encouraged farmers to take advantage of the opportunity, highlighting the growing international demand for coffee and the current price of Sh87 per kilo. “This is a great opportunity for farmers to increase their earnings and contribute to poverty reduction,” he added.
Additionally, the governor called on the Department of Agriculture to step up its efforts in educating farmers. He emphasized the need for expert guidance to improve coffee farming techniques, which will ultimately boost production in the county.
In an effort to reduce production costs, Governor Mutula is collaborating with the national government and the National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) to provide coffee farmers with subsidized fertilizer.
With these concerted efforts, Makueni County is poised to become a significant player in Kenya’s coffee industry, benefiting both the local economy and farmers.
