{
  "id": 12636612,
  "title": "Kirinyaga coffee farmers reap record payouts",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/07/kirinyaga-coffee-farmers-reap-record-payouts",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-10-07T13:25:13.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "KBC",
    "slug": "kbc",
    "url": "https://www.kbc.co.ke/kirinyaga-coffee-farmers-reap-record-payouts/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "For retired teacher and farmer John Ndamberi, coffee remains the main source of income that has sustained his family for decades. Improved earnings from coffee have renewed his confidence as a farmer and provided the means to support his household after retiring. Ndamberi, who began growing coffee in 1986, notes that his average production is around 80,000 kilos, which yields a good income of Ksh 130 to Ksh 150 per kilogramme. This payment is sufficient to cover production costs and household needs throughout the year.\n\nPeter Gichovi, manager at Nyenje Factory, reports that the facility processed approximately one million kilogrammes of coffee last year, with production projected to increase to 1.2 million kilogrammes this season. Simon Muchira highlights the transformation as a significant shift compared to years when coffee prices were too low to motivate farmers to invest in their farms. He recalls when farmers earned little, causing many to abandon coffee or reduce their investments in their farms. Now, the incentive for farmers to maintain and expand their plantations is significantly higher due to the increased returns.\n\nAt Baragwi Farmers' Cooperative Society, the turnaround is evident in rising production and farmer earnings. The society's deputy manager, Justus Janja, reports that coffee cherry deliveries have increased from about 10 million kilogrammes in 2023/24 to 11 million kilogrammes in 2024/25, with expectations to exceed 16 million kilogrammes in the current season. This growth is attributed to better collaboration between farmers, agronomists, factory staff, and cooperative leaders, along with a focus on improving coffee quality and farm management. Janja emphasizes that coffee farming is a business and that farmers must invest time and effort to succeed.\n\nThe increased returns in coffee farming are part of national efforts to revive Kenya's coffee industry. The government aims to increase national coffee production from around 50,000 to 150,000 metric tonnes within three years, supported by investments in high-yielding, disease-resistant seedlings, stronger cooperatives, training, and market reforms. For Kirinyaga farmers, the direct impact of these improved returns is evident in their ability to pay school fees, support workers, buy livestock, and reinvest in their coffee plantations. The improved earnings are restoring the incentive for farmers to maintain and expand their plantations.",
  "summary": "For retired teacher and farmer John Ndamberi, coffee is more than a crop; it is the main source of income that has supported his family for decades. Ndamberi, who started growing coffee in 1986, says improved earnings from the crop have renewed his confidence in farming and given him the means to sustain his household […] The post Kirinyaga coffee farmers reap record payouts appeared first on KBC…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}