The 1980s can be considered the golden age of coffee agriculture in Kenya. In 1987/88, annual production peaked at 128,926 metric tons, and the sector emerged as an important driver of the national economy. Fast forward to today and the photos are completely different. According to the National Bureau of Statistics Economic Survey 2024, the output reached just 48,700 tons in 2023 and just 48,700 tons in 2023.
Once upon a time, once burning coffee estates have been fragmented as farmers either rely on alternative crops or immediately sell plots of land to property developers. Some estimates show that Kenya's coffee area has decreased by 30% from 170,000 ha in the 1990s to 119,000 ha in 2020.
The unforgettable irony is that Kenya was unable to expand its coffee production when domestically grown Arabica blends were gaining a massive premium in the international market. Arabica Coffee Futures, which tracks the price movement of Arabica Coffee Beans in the global commodity market, currently trades at $370 per 60 kilograms.
Certainly it is worth highlighting everything about Kenya's agricultural exports. Nothing orders a greater price in the international market than coffee. This leads to higher incomes for coffee farmers. Economic surveys show that coffee farmers gained SH61,416 per 100 kg of coffee in 2023. In comparison, the tea farmer won SH28,371. As coffee farming seems increasingly advantageous, many mental issues are:
Support for small-scale farmers
When Kenya revives the coffee sector, targeted interventions targeting smallholder farmers are extremely important. This is because an estimated 70% of the coffee in the country is produced by small-scale farmers. However, coffee agriculture is a tough venture that requires critical labor, capital investment and technical expertise.
Therefore, small-scale coffee farmers need their comprehensive support to successfully expand their production. Enhanced training programs, introduction of accessible funding mechanisms, and promoting innovative cooperative models are just some of the reforms that enable farmers to overcome barriers and make coffee agriculture a more sustainable and profitable venture.
Equally important is the need to restore agricultural expansion services that once played a pivotal role in ensuring agriculture has access to the latest knowledge, technology and top agricultural practices.
As my own coffee farmer, I can prove the fact that having access to scientific knowledge on topics such as soil management, pest control, irrigation techniques, and seed varieties can dramatically improve yield and produce quality. Therefore, we must prioritize raising the level of technical support to expand to smallholder coffee farmers through our expansion personnel.
Kenya's major coffee-growing areas, including the highlands of Mount Kenya, as well as the highlands of Abadia, Kishii, Kericho and Nandi, all enjoy the promoted climate and soil conditions for the cultivation of high-quality coffee. However, as climate change accelerates, this clear geographical advantage is not something that can be taken for granted. Rising temperatures, unpredictable rainfall, and changing weather patterns threaten coffee yields, quality, and long-term sustainability.
Therefore, we need to ensure that we make the necessary investments to promote climate-smart coffee agriculture and support climate change adaptation. This means investing in drought-resistant coffee varieties to withstand unstable weather, strengthening soil conservation techniques to protect farms from degradation, and promoting agroforestry to regulate microclimate and harvest from extreme conditions. Additionally, efficient irrigation systems must be implemented to reduce water shortages.
Adopting technology
Kenyan coffee farmers should not be left behind as artificial intelligence, precision agriculture and data-driven decision-making revolutionize global food production. Integrating digital tools into farm management increases productivity, improves market access and ensures long-term sustainability of the sector.
Although the use of digital technology in agriculture is not new, existing knowledge and skills gaps have slowed adoption among small-scale coffee farmers. Many people lack training on how to properly use modern devices and software, limiting their ability to interpret data that could improve yields and revenue.
Government-backed digital hubs are set up to boost rural populations and promote digital literacy in various counties, providing a great opportunity to address this challenge. If Kenya is serious about revitalizing the coffee industry, investing in digital upskills must be a top priority as the connected farmers are empowered farmers.
No one knows where the global coffee market is going from here, but all the signs indicate that Arabica coffee prices may continue to rise. This means that if there is a time for Kenya to revive the coffee industry, it will be the time when the reward for doing so is the highest.
The question is, will Kenya seize this moment or will he continue to see the potential for revenues of one of the most valuable agricultural exports decrease? Certainly, it's time for farmers, policymakers and investors to come together to address the systemic issues that plague the coffee sector.
