Homabay County Deputy Governor H.E. Hon. Joseph Oyugi Magwanga has hosted a high-level meeting with New Kenya Planters Co-operative Union (New KPCU) Chairman Daniel K. Kiprotich Chemno, New KPCU MD Timothy Mirugi, and Acting Coffee Directorate Director Dr. Benson Apuoyo, PhD, among other key officials.
Established as a State Corporation and incorporated as a public limited company in November 2019, New KPCU aims to be the leading institution in the coffee industry offering innovative products and services. New KPCU’s mission is to provide farmers with affordable and sustainable services along the coffee value chain. According to reports from the high-end meeting, Homabay County is poised to become one of Kenya’s leading coffee powerhouses, thanks to its favorable climate and vast tracts of arable land.
The discussion between the New KPCU officials and Homabay County centered on strategies to enhance coffee production in the region. Key challenges identified by farmers included the need for certified seedlings, access to subsidized farm inputs, farmer education on advanced coffee agronomy, and the modernization of farming practices, such as the provision of eco-pulpers to farmer societies.
The engagement of youth in coffee farming as a pathway to self-employment was also highlighted as a critical factor for driving positive change in the county.
With over 3,500 farmers expressing interest in coffee farming, the collaboration between the County Government of Homabay and New KPCU holds great promise.
This partnership is set to uplift the livelihoods of many families while boosting the local economy and contributing to the growth of Kenya.
