OVER 5,000 FARMERS TO BENEFIT FROM REGENERATIVE, CLIMATE-SMART AGRICULTURE IN KIRINYAGA COUNTY

Описание: Farmers of Inoi Cooperative society will benefit from a 3 year project called Brewing the Future Coffee to Stay funded by German based coffee buyer called Tchibo in partnership with The Mount Kenya Sustainable Landscape and Livelihoods program (MSuLLi) led by the Rainforest Alliance.

The project aims to address the challenges in coffee sector through promotion of regenerative agriculture, climate-smart practices, and the inclusion of women and youth in the coffee sector, with the purpose to improve coffee yields, quality, and resilience against climate change. These efforts will contribute to the long-term sustainability of the region's agricultural landscapes and the livelihoods of smallholder farmers.

Mount Kenya region is facing significant challenges due to climate change, land degradation, and socio-economic pressures affecting smallholder coffee farmers, who are key to the region's economy

Marion Ng’ang’a, country director Rainforest Alliance, the project is targeting about 5,000 farmers of Inoi coffee cooperative society in Kirinyaga County to create a more sustainable world through protecting nature and improving their livelihoods.

“We shall be implementing the project through three pathways: regenerative and climate-smart agriculture, strengthening the coffee business by enhancing coffee productivity and quality and putting interventions aimed at including women and youth in coffee value chain through diversification of agricultural activities” Ms. Ng’ang’a said.

Speaking during the launch of the project at Inoi Cofee Factory in Kerugoya , the country director added they are passing a message of conservation of Mount Kenya ecosystem which is major water tower for Kenya as well as importance of biodiversity protection which without farmers cannot sustain coffee production for the world and for the future generation.

“We shall also promote agroforestry of compatible multipurpose trees starting with the high-value trees that are recommended by the Coffee Research Institute for coffee production. So we shall be training and facilitating the farmers to conduct soil analysis to understand the nutrient deficiency and to apply the fertilizers and organic manure based on needs and not through assumptions.” She noted.

Karugu Macharia, landscape management board, insisted that agroforestry especially having other value crops like Macadamia and avocados in the coffee farms, and having indigenous trees play key role during dry seasons by provided shades and falling leaves become source of nutrients.

Felix Mwai , Chairperson Inoi Farmers Cooperative Society, said the training will a turn around in operations of the society in terms of production as they want to move current production of 630,000 kilos annually to a target of 2.2 million.

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