Uasin Gishu Governor Jonathan Bii has teamed up with his Laikipia counterpart Joshua Irungu to promote coffee growing as part of efforts to have farmers diversity from traditional and less paying crops like maize and wheat.
The governors met in Eldoret where Irungu presided over distribution of coffee seedlings to farmers whom he urged to shift and practice agriculture as a commercial venture and not merely an activity for food production.
Irungu said Laikipia is a high producing area for coffee and urged farmers in Uasin Gishu to change and stop overreliance on maize production.
“Production of maize is less paying and should only be done as a hobby and or for food security purposes, but for commercial purposes, our farmers should now go for high value crops like coffee,” he said.
He said maize farmers now make less than Sh100,000 from an acre under the crop but coffee grown on the same size can fetch farmers over Sh1 million annually.
Irungu said while maize gives employment for less than six month, coffee provides job opportunities round the year and has capacity to transform livelihoods of residents economically.
Bii said his county would distribute over 1 million coffee seedlings to farmers noting that the crop had a market worldwide.
“The only challenge we may have is shortage of seedlings but we will work with the government to ensure we have enough to give to our farmers,” he said.
Bii has in the recent past intensified distribution of seedlings for high value crops in renewed efforts to have more farmers adopt crop diversification in the region known for maize growing and other cereals.
It is estimated that over 8,000 farmers in the county have ventured into growing of the value crops within the last few years with Bii saying the crops will enable farmers make more money from their agricultural activities.
Coffee farming as a high-value crop is taking root in the region where the county government is distributing an additional 66,000 coffee seedlings, 2,000 macadamia seedlings and 1,000 avocado seedlings.
County officials led by the county boss last week distributed the seedlings in Besiobor area of Tapsagoi Ward, Turbo subcounty as part of the ongoing efforts in most wards in the region.
“Our plan is to enable our farmers make more earnings from the high value crops even as they continue to grow maize and other cereals as traditional food and commercial crops,” Bii said.
The initiative is part of the Financing Locally-Led Climate Action (FLLoCA) programme, which aims to promote climate resilience and economic empowerment through sustainable agriculture.
FLLoCA is aimed at championing biodiversity by encouraging the cultivation of high-value crops like coffee, macadamia and avocado. These efforts are not only mitigating the effects of climate change but also transforming the livelihoods of farmers.
“The transformation of agriculture through high-value crops is the future. Coffee is among the most profitable crops, and as Uasin Gishu leaders, we are committed to empowering our people,” Bii said.
Under the governor’s Nguzo Kumi Blueprint for the county, biodiversity is one of the key pillars.
Bii is also urging the youth to nurture the seedlings promising support from the county government to help sustain their activities.
One of the program’s beneficiaries, Mzee Joel, expressed his excitement.
“I thank the governor and the county government for this support. We’ve formed a cooperative and embraced coffee farming wholeheartedly. We now seek assistance in establishing a processing plant as we prepare to become future millionaires and export our produce,” he said.
