The Government is set to distribute at least 500 million coffee seedlings to farmers this year, in its bid to boost coffee production in the country.
Speaking at Urru Stadium in Tigania West Constituency, Meru County, during coffee reforms sensitisation tour, Cooperatives, Micro and Small Enterprise (MSMEs) Cabinet Secretary (CS), Wycliffe Oparanya, said the seedlings were ready for planting and were only awaiting distribution to farmers. "We already have the seedlings, including 300 million from Kenya Planters Cooperative Union and some more 200 million sourced from Uganda.
We want farmers to increase acreages of coffee and in return increase our production," said Mr Oparanya.
He, however, advised primary coffee cooperatives to liaise with their respective County governments to write proposals, entailing a variety of the seedlings they want before distribution. "Distribution will only be done through primary cooperatives and that is why we want them to write proposals to know their specific need, since we have a variety of seedlings," said Mr Oparanya.
