Kenya: $38 million to support coffee production

Kenya has just released 6 billion shillings ($38 million) for coffee growers. This was revealed by government spokesman Isaac Mwaura on 8 January. The package will be implemented through the Coffee Cherry Advance Revolving Fund (CCARF).

Under the administration of the Kenya Planters Cooperative Union (KPCU), this fund was set up in 2019 to provide sustainable and accessible loans to small-scale coffee producers whose farms are less than 8 hectares in size.

According to information relayed by local daily Capital FM, this financial support will make it possible to increase the purchase price of beans from producers.

According to Mr Mwaura, the aim is to provide farmers with a guaranteed minimum income of 80 shillings ($0.5) per kilogram, a 33% increase on the previous price of 60 shillings ($0.37).

«The operation is already underway in Makueni County and will be extended to all 37 coffee-producing counties in the country. In detail, 40 shillings will be paid once the farmer has transported his crop to the factory, and the rest of the payment will be sent to him in the month following pulping», explains the official.

On a broader level, this financial boost is one of a number of measures planned by the government to boost production to almost 260,000 tonnes by 2028, up from 52,000 tonnes in 2022.

In the country, coffee is grown over a total area of more than 100,000 hectares and the bean value chain supports more than 5 million people, according to official figures.

Yann ETERNEL