The Kenyan government is making bold moves to increase local coffee consumption to boost revenues, even as the country grapples with a drop in production. During the launch of its strategic plan yesterday, the New Kenya Planters Cooperative Union (KPCU) revealed that domestic coffee consumption remains worryingly low at just 19 percent.
To address this, the union has proposed introducing coffee into schools, workplaces and retail outlets to instill coffee culture early on. They also emphasized the need for creative marketing strategies to make coffee appealing to younger generations, whose preferences could drive demand in the long term.
Despite these efforts, Kenya’s coffee production declined by 6 percent to 0.81 million bags, a reduction attributed to erratic weather conditions and the natural cycles of coffee farming. Still, Kenya remains Africa’s third largest producer of Arabica coffee, underscoring the sector’s importance to the economy.
New KPCU Chairman Daniel Chemmo reaffirmed the organizations commitment to revitalizing coffee farming and increasing production .However, he cited significant challenges including outdated machinery which hammers efficiency and compromises the quality of coffee handling.
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Chemmo called on the government to provide subsidies for agricultural chemicals through the new KPCU to support farmers. Additionally, he advocated for empowering coffee research institute to develop resilient coffee seed varieties through collaborations with county governments.
This strategic plan represents a critical step toward addressing the twin challenges of declining production and low local consumption. By blending policy, support, innovation and cultural transformation, Kenya aims to solidify its position in the global coffee market while reaping greater domestic economic benefits .Whether these strategies will brew success remains to be seen but the push to caffeinate the nation is undeniably underway.
By jane riana
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