- Taita Taveta to distribute 68,750 free coffee seedlings.
- County targets farmers returning to or expanding coffee farming.
- Officials plan to strengthen extension services and revive processing equipment.
The County Government of Taita Taveta has intensified efforts to revive coffee farming as part of measures to boost agricultural productivity and improve household incomes across the county.
The county is set to receive 68,750 high yielding and disease resistant coffee seedlings, which will be distributed to farmers free of charge in Taita, Mwatate and Voi sub-counties. The initiative targets farmers seeking to return to coffee production, as well as those intending to expand their acreage in areas identified as suitable for coffee cultivation.
County to boost extension services
According to County Executive Committee Member for Agriculture Katuu Mzenge, the county administration is prioritising farmer support and strengthening agricultural extension services. This, he said, would ensure farmers receive the technical knowledge required to successfully establish and manage their coffee farms.
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Mzenge added that the county will also provide technical assistance to farmers while working to rehabilitate coffee processing machinery, as part of broader efforts to rebuild the coffee value chain.
Reviving a declining crop
The renewed focus comes against the backdrop of a significant decline in coffee production in Taita Taveta over the years, which has affected the crop’s contribution to farmers’ livelihoods and the local economy.
Through the distribution of seedlings and enhanced support services, the county hopes to encourage more farmers to return to coffee farming and increase production. Meanwhile, the rehabilitation of processing equipment is also expected to improve value addition, creating better opportunities for farmers to benefit from their produce.
By Bernard Magada
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