The national government has intensified efforts to revive Kenya's coffee sector by encouraging farmers in Kisumu, Siaya, and Migori counties to embrace coffee farming as a profitable commercial enterprise. The initiative forms part of a broader strategy to increase national coffee production to 150,000 tonnes by the 2028/2029 season, while creating sustainable livelihoods for thousands of farming households.
Through the Ministry of Agriculture, farmers are being registered to join coffee-growing programs and linked to strong cooperative societies that will improve access to quality seedlings, extension services, affordable farm inputs, and better markets. Officials say organized cooperatives are key to improving farmers' bargaining power and ensuring they receive fair prices for their produce.
Coffee is one of Kenya's leading export crops, renowned globally for its premium quality and unique flavor. By expanding production into suitable regions of Nyanza, the government aims to diversify agricultural income, reduce overreliance on traditional crops, and unlock new export opportunities that will boost foreign exchange earnings.
The initiative also focuses on strengthening the entire coffee value chain—from production and processing to value addition, marketing, and export. This approach is expected to create employment opportunities for youth and women in coffee nurseries, processing factories, transport, packaging, and trading.
Agricultural experts have urged farmers to view coffee as a long-term investment capable of generating consistent income when managed properly. With growing global demand for high-quality Kenyan coffee, the expansion into Kisumu, Siaya, and Migori presents an opportunity for farmers to participate in a lucrative industry.
As the coffee revival program gains momentum, the government remains optimistic that increased farmer participation, stronger cooperatives, and improved value addition will restore Kenya's position among the world's leading coffee producers while improving rural incomes and economic resilience.
