Nairobi: Director-General of Directorate of Resource Surveys and Remote Sensing (DRSRS) Dr. Moses Akali has urged for swift coordination among government agencies as Kenya launches a national coffee geo-mapping exercise to meet new European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) requirements. The exercise, spearheaded by DRSRS in partnership with the Kenya Forest Service (KFS) and the Kenya Space Agency (KSA), is aimed at safeguarding market access for Kenyan coffee farmers.
According to Kenya News Agency, in remarks delivered on his behalf by the Director of Remote Sensing Charles Situma, Dr. Akali said the mapping would generate farm-level polygons and location metadata to demonstrate that Kenyan coffee is produced on non-deforested land. He disclosed that 30 per cent of coffee-growing areas have already been captured through satellite imagery, with field validation and geo-tagging scheduled ahead of the December 2025 compliance deadline.
The project will combine remote sensing, GPS surveys, and mobile data tools to provide reliable farm-level traceability. DRSRS has also set up a cloud-based system to integrate data collection, verification, and compliance monitoring. Dr. Akali stressed that the success of the exercise would depend on efficiency in the field, clear communication, and firm commitment from all agencies. He added that the programme would also establish a foundation for data-driven and sustainable agriculture in Kenya.
DRSRS Technical Lead for the project Vincent Imala assured stakeholders that the agency has the infrastructure and expertise to deliver compliance. He said DRSRS would host technical staff from partner agencies including KFS, KSA, and the AFA-Coffee Directorate at its labs for joint validation and oversight. Kenya Forest Service Manager for Forest Survey and Information Management Evans Kegode said accurate agroforestry mapping and verification would strengthen Kenya's credibility in global markets. He noted that the initiative would promote sustainability, improve farmer livelihoods, and enhance resilience against climate change. The forum marked the final planning session before the nationwide rollout of the coffee geo-mapping exercise.