Nairobi: The Kenya Planters Cooperative Union (New KPCU), in conjunction with the Coffee Research Institute (CRI), has embarked on an initiative to empower youth and women in the coffee industry by sponsoring two young individuals from every coffee-growing ward for comprehensive training.
According to Kenya News Agency, the New KPCU chairman, Daniel Chemno, highlighted that the selected youth are being trained in areas such as preparation, agronomy, processing, and marketing. This training aims to enhance grassroots expertise and create employment opportunities. Speaking at the East African Coffee Market and Conference in Nairobi, Chemno emphasized that the training would enable the youth to establish their own coffee farms, become self-employed, and serve as trainers for other young people.
Chemno noted that the government's efforts include promoting domestic coffee consumption and training youth in barista skills. This involves learning essential skills like espresso extraction, milk steaming, latte art, and machine maintenance in coffeehouses. Additionally, the government is facilitating duty-free coffee shops at airports, mobile 'coffee-on-go' initiatives, and coffee programs in schools to empower young people to become future coffee growers.
The average age of coffee farmers in Kenya is over 55, which poses a challenge for the industry as fewer young people enter the field. The training program aims to spread knowledge, provide entrepreneurial skills, and offer access to finance, boosting demand among young consumers and potentially inspiring a new generation of farmers. Chemno noted that the youth undergoing training at CRI will return to their localities to advise farmers, addressing the gap in extension services.
To enhance support for the trained youth, New KPCU has hired field officers to supervise them in their respective wards. Chemno explained that a strong group of coffee experts would assist farmers, and the government is collaborating with universities to develop tissue culture coffee seedlings. This initiative targets producing 20 million seedlings annually, with Sh500 million set aside for this purpose.
Nancy Cheruiyot, the Managing Trustee and CEO of the Commodities Fund, stated that they provide subsidized credit lines, especially for women, with interest rates as low as 3 per cent. She emphasized the need for women and youth participation in the coffee sector, noting that very few farmers are women. Through the Association of Women in Coffee, efforts are underway to ensure women play significant roles in cooperatives while supporting youth in acquiring seedlings.
Cheruiyot also mentioned that financing models exist to provide coffee seedlings to young farmers, allowing them to repay costs through future coffee sales. The government plans to allocate sufficient funding for CRI to expand seed gardens, with counties like Uasin-Gishu and Narok offering land for this purpose.
The Commodities Fund is leveraging technology by digitizing records and monitoring coffee deliveries to the Nairobi Coffee Exchange. So far, 45 cooperatives in Kericho County have been digitized, with plans to expand to other regions.
Government initiatives include the Kenya Coffee School x Barista Mtaani EXP Program, focusing on experiential learning, micro-scholarships, and digital credentials. Additionally, coffee education is being integrated into training institutions and curriculums, encompassing sustainable farming practices and data collection.