By Fridah Mbuvi, June 16, 2026
Agricultural officials and cooperative leaders in Kirinyaga County are urging coffee farmers to expand production and avoid uprooting coffee bushes, citing a steady improvement in market returns driven by reforms in the sub-sector.
The appeal follows renewed optimism in Kenya’s coffee industry, with stakeholders reporting stronger payouts to farmers, particularly those under major cooperative societies such as Baragwi Farmers Cooperative Society. Officials say the improved earnings have discouraged the trend of farmers shifting to alternative cash crops like avocados and macadamia.
According to cooperative leaders, one of the key drivers of the revival is the ongoing shift toward direct export marketing, which has reduced reliance on intermediaries and enabled farmers’ coffee to reach international buyers at more competitive prices. The reforms are credited with improving transparency and increasing earnings for smallholder farmers.
In addition, local coffee factories are undergoing modernization efforts aimed at improving quality and efficiency. Upgrades include the adoption of eco-pulping technologies and the expansion of solar drying beds, measures expected to enhance bean quality and increase market competitiveness.
County officials have also intensified efforts to support farmers through subsidized agricultural inputs, including fertilizers and high-yielding, disease-resistant coffee seedlings. The initiative is intended to reduce production costs and improve overall productivity among small-scale growers.
Agricultural stakeholders maintain that with sustained reforms and continued investment in value addition, Kirinyaga’s coffee sector is well positioned for long-term growth in both local and international markets.
