COUNTY PLANS TO MEET FUTURE COFFEE SEEDLING DEMAND

oxfarmorganic@gmail.com Farming News May 29, 2025

The County Government of Uasin Gishu has initiated plans to deal with the rising need for coffee seedlings. This is part of Governor Jonathan Bii Chelilim‘s development plan, Nguzo Kumi Agenda, with agriculture as the first key focus area (Nguzo 1).

On Wednesday, top officials from the County Department of Agriculture, Presidential Economic Transformation Secretariat (PETS), and Coffee Research Institute (CRI) held a meeting to deliberate on stocking enough coffee seedlings in future.

During the meeting, experts said that based on current trends, farmers in the county might need more than 3 million coffee seedlings soon. This is because more farmers are turning to coffee as a way to earn better income.

To meet this growing demand, the team discussed a plan to supply seedlings through different channels. These include: Supporting local cooperatives to grow and distribute seedlings with their members as well as increasing seedlings at Chebororwa Agricultural Training Centre (ATC) so it can produce more than one million seedlings.

Agriculture Chief Officer Mr. Elphas Kesio said it is important to plan early and make sure the county’s farming plans match national economic goals.

“Getting ready early will help us make the switch to coffee farming successful,” he said.

Director Agriculture, Mr. Ken Kili, alongside Director Governor’s delivery unit Mr Charles Kapkiaai both confirmed that the county is serious about making agriculture the main driver of local development.

The meeting ended with a list of ideas to help ensure there will be enough coffee seedlings for the long term.