Coffee revival programme seeks to distribute 20 million seedlings to farmers

Laikipia Governor Joshua Irungu distributes certified coffee seedlings to farmers donated through the government coffee revamping programme, on July 29, 2025. [Boniface Gikandi, Standard]

The national coffee revival programme targets to distribute more than 20 million certified coffee seedlings to increase production in 2028/2029.

The Sh500 million programme facilitated by the Ministry of Cooperatives targets to increase production from 51,852 metric tonnes to 150,000 metric tonnes to satisfy the local and international markets.

In Laikipia County, formerly a conflict zone, the leadership embraced coffee farming in a bid to diversify from the traditional crops in Laikipia West constituency.

New Kenya Planters Co-operative Union (KPCU), through a government-backed national coffee revival programme, has distributed more than 38,000 certified seedlings in Laikipia, which were picked by farmers in the Ng’arua and Marmanent cooperative societies.

The programme is being steered by Governor Joshua Irungu and his Finance Chief Officer Daniel Ngumi who have called on other stakeholders to support the growers. 

In Laikipia, researchers have identified Igwamiti, Olmoran, Rumuruti, Ngobit, Umande, Salama, Tigithi, Segera, Githiga, Marmanet, Sosian, and Nanyuki as areas where the coffee can do well.

In the areas, youth interested in coffee farming have been invited for training in a pact between New KPCU and the Ministry of Cooperatives and MSMEs Development.

In Rift Valley, Laikipia, West Pokot, and Baringo are among the counties targeted for coffee farming.

Cooperative Cabinet Secretary Wycliffe Oparanya announced that coffee seedlings are issued free to the farmers through the cooperative societies in an effort to increase production.

“This year the seedlings are given for free, but next year they will be paid for, so hurry up to benefit,” said Oparanya.

Governor Irungu said Laikipia targets to get more than 500,000 coffee seedlings for distribution to farmers in the wards identified for the establishment of plantations.

“This initiative forms part of our broader plan to distribute 500,000 coffee seedlings to farmers in coffee-growing zones, a partnership with New KPCU aimed at promoting crop diversification and enhancing agricultural resilience,” he said.

 The governor said that coffee nurseries will be established in the 15 wards to assist the farmers with access to the certified seedlings. 

Mr Ngumi revealed that the coffee farms will be under the youth to ensure they are productive and provide financial support to their families.

The Finance Chief Officer said in Laikipia West, youth interested in coffee farming will undergo training.

“The youth are the majority and thus best suited to manage the coffee farmers; thus, expect increased production in the coming years,” said Ngumi.

In Murang’a, Gatagua Farmers Cooperative Society Chairman Irungu Chege said they received 30,000 coffee seedlings for distribution to the farmers.

“We thank the government for the distribution of the seedlings as promised to the realisation to increase production at the farm level,” said Irungu.

The new KPCU Managing Director, Timothy Mirugi, emphasised the programme’s long-term goal of tripling Kenya’s annual coffee production through the distribution of certified seedlings.

“The productivity per coffee tree is expected to rise from the current average of two kilogrammes to more than five kilogrammes, through the improved varieties and enhanced agronomic practices,” said Mirugi.