Kenya partners with Italy to build coffee training centre, targets production growth
Kenya and Italy collaborate to establish a coffee training centre aimed at boosting productivity, quality, and farmer incomes while strengthening the country’s coffee value chain.
KENYA – Kenya has partnered with Italy to construct a coffee training centre at the Coffee Research Institute, in a move aimed at revitalizing the sector and improving productivity, quality, and climate resilience.
Speaking during the groundbreaking ceremony, Cabinet Secretary for Agriculture and Livestock Development Mutahi Kagwe said the government is targeting to double coffee production from the current 49,000 metric tonnes through investments in farmer training, research, and strategic partnerships.
He noted that the initiative will also promote value addition, support market diversification, and encourage the expansion of coffee farming into emerging regions beyond traditional growing areas.
Kagwe emphasized the importance of farmer-focused solutions, particularly in financing. He urged financial institutions to develop products that align with agricultural cycles and reduce production costs.
“Strengthening research and promoting suitable coffee varieties will be key to increasing both yield and quality,” he said.
The Cabinet Secretary reaffirmed the government’s commitment to revitalizing the coffee value chain, with a focus on supporting smallholder farmers. He highlighted persistent challenges, including climate change, limited access to appropriate technologies, and constrained financing, which continue to affect productivity.
To address these issues, Kagwe outlined reforms aimed at restructuring the coffee subsector to align with farmers’ capacities, opening new coffee-growing zones, and ensuring the country meets both local and export demand.
He also underscored plans to harmonize financial frameworks to provide farmers with favorable credit terms, including lower interest rates and grace periods.
Italian Director General for Development Cooperation at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Stephano Gatti, described the partnership as timely and mutually beneficial. He highlighted the shared cultural importance of coffee and its potential to improve farmer incomes while strengthening bilateral ties.
Gatti reaffirmed Italy’s commitment to supporting Kenya’s agricultural sector and emphasized the importance of a farmer-centered approach. He also expressed readiness to expand market access for Kenyan coffee in Italy.
He added that the collaboration would extend beyond coffee to include other key value chains such as wheat, tea, edible oils, animal feeds, and dairy, reflecting a broader vision for agricultural development.
Coffee remains a key pillar of Kenya’s economy, ranking as the third-largest agricultural export and supporting about 13% of households.
Cabinet Secretary for Co-operatives and MSMEs Development Wycliffe Oparanya recently said the government aims to increase production from 50,000 metric tonnes to 150,000 metric tonnes by the 2028–2029 period.
He noted this will be achieved through adoption of modern technologies, use of certified seedlings, and improved extension services.
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