Farmers in Kirinyaga Central and Ndia constituencies have been encouraged to embrace coffee farming and reduce their reliance on maize cultivation, which stakeholders say yields considerably lower returns.
Speaking at Kaitheri in Kerugoya, Kirinyaga Central, National Coffee Cooperative Union (NACCU) Chairman Felix Mwai noted that the two constituencies collectively produced 16 million kilogrammes of coffee, compared to more than 34 million kilogrammes produced by Gichugu Constituency alone.
Mwai disclosed that coffee farmers in Kirinyaga County earned Ksh 6.9 billion from the previous season’s harvest. Farmers in Gichugu Constituency received the largest share, taking home over Ksh 5 billion, while those in Kirinyaga Central and Ndia collectively earned about Ksh 2 billion.
He further noted that farmers who have adopted coffee farming are enjoying significant returns, with cherry prices in the county reaching record highs of Ksh 120 and Ksh 157 per kilogramme.
Highlighting Gichugu’s performance, Mwai said the Baragwi Coffee Cooperative Society produced 13 million kilogrammes of coffee, resulting in farmers getting paid Ksh2.9 billion.
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He urged farmers in Ndia to reconsider maize farming, noting that a quarter-acre of land typically yields only about four 90-kilogram bags of maize. In contrast, he said the same piece of land can support around 240 coffee bushes, which can generate more than Ksh200,000 in a single season.
Mwai attributed the improved earnings to strengthened leadership and better governance within coffee cooperative societies. He further noted that coffee seedlings are readily available through cooperatives for farmers interested in transitioning to coffee farming.
By Frank Mugwe
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