Kisumu County has embarked on reviving Coffee Farming as a means to spur economic growth in the region.
Farmers from Nyakach Cooperative Society today received 8,000 Coffee seedlings courtesy of Agriculture Food Authority (AFA)
The distribution of the seedlings to the farmers was spearheaded by the PS for Trade, Mr. Alfred Kombudo together with the Kisumu Deputy Governor Dr. Matthew Owili who was the host.
Prior to the distribution, the delegation from Coffee Directorate together with AFA representatives led by the PS Kombudo paid a courtesy call to the Deputy Governor’s office.
The discussions mainly revolved around reviving Coffee Farming in Kisumu among other crop value chains that would boost Kisumu’s economic growth through exports.
The PS commended the County Government for their stewardship in development and urged the County to produce for exports now that the country is exporting coffee to EU that earns about 115 million dollars and the interest has been developed in the United States market which is an opportunity Kisumu should grab.
While addressing the farmers at Siany Hall in Nyakach, the PS reminiscing how Coffee farming in Nyakach educated the people of Nyakach, he called on the farmers to remain committed in enhancing coffee production for income.
He reiterated that the government has prioritized coffee farming hence the need to revamp it. He advised the farmers to increase the acreage, an indicator that they are ready for support.
He urged the farmers to form functional cooperative Societies since it is the only way they can access some support from the two levels of government
He also called on the County Government in collaboration with AFA to work closely with the farmers in order to profile the coffee speciality around Kisumu region that would fetch high prices in the market.
Concerning electricity connectivity to the pulping machine, the PS said they would work closely with the county government and the PS energy to consider their plight.
On his part, the Deputy Governor, Dr Matthew Owili expressed his gratitude to the partners for their support.
He said coffee is ranked high among the cash crops and that Kisumu is endowed with the good soil and rain patterns that favor the production of the robusta coffee variety
He added that the County has since revived the pulping machine and has now employed the extension officers who will train and support the farmers from planting to harvesting time.
Dr. Owilli called on the agriculture department to ensure they document the progress of the farmers to ensure better agronomy practices with bumper yields.
He also pledged to support the Cooperative Society with a new machine and 10,000 more seedlings if only they increase productivity.
According to the representative of the Director General AFA, Mr. Shadrack Oyugi, he commented the county for employing extension officers of which he is optimistic that through their support the society would attain its target from 20,000Kgs to the anticipated 100,000Kgs. By this he added it would be a more sustainable way of farming that results in economic growth.
He also pledged to offer training to farmers along with the extension officers to ensure quality in production.
The Director Coffee Directorate Mr. Benson Apuoyo called on farmers to remain committed and learn best practices from one of their officers Mr. Choge.
The CECM for Agriculture, livestock, Fisheries and Blue Economy, Hon. Kenneth Onyango appealed to AFA to map out other potential areas within Kisumu such as Muhoroni, Kisumu West and Seme.
He called on farmers to grow their cooperative membership since the government offers support and subsidies through cooperative Societies.
Hon. Onyango also advised farmers to quit subsistence farming and embrace commercial farming that is when their livelihoods would improve.
The Chief Officer, Mr. Eric Ogallo, on his part explained the speciality that comes with the robusta coffee that makes it unique hence can fetch good prices in the market if farmers increase the productivity
The area MCA, Hon Lumumba Owade said he is focused on reviving Coffee farming in the area among other crops like Avocado to improve the livelihood of the people from both Nyakach South and Nyakach South East.
A demonstration on planting coffee was done at Nehemiah Achilla’s farm. This was identified as a model farm where farmers can learn best agronomy practices.
Also gracing the occasion were, Mr. Edwin Abonyo,the Sub County Administrator, Ward Administrators, village Administrators, Area Chief, AFA officers and County officials.