Retired teacher and farmer John Ndamberi, who has cultivated coffee since 1986, described the current earnings as a lifeline for his family. With an average annual production of 80,000 kilos, Ndamberi earns between Ksh 130 and Ksh 150 per kilogramme, providing sufficient income to cover household expenses and production costs. 'For us, that money is enough to manage the coffee for the whole year,' he stated, emphasizing the crop’s role as his sole source of income. The improved returns have reinvigorated his commitment to farming, allowing him to sustain his household post-retirement.
Peter Gichovi, manager at Nyenje Factory, reported that the facility processed 1 million kilogrammes of coffee last season, with projections of 1.2 million kilogrammes for the current season. This growth aligns with broader trends in Kirinyaga, where farmers are benefiting from higher prices and better market access. Simon Muchira, a local agronomist, highlighted the contrast with past years when low prices discouraged investment. 'Now the farmer has interest in farming because of the good payment from coffee,' he noted, underscoring the sector’s transformation.
At Baragwi Farmers’ Cooperative Society, production and earnings have seen significant growth. Deputy manager Justus Janja revealed that coffee cherry deliveries rose from 10 million kilogrammes in 2023/24 to 11 million in 2024/25, with projections exceeding 16 million this season. The cooperative paid farmers Ksh 99 per kilogramme in 2023/24, rising to Ksh 157 in 2025/26, according to internal records. Janja also noted that 68 farmers became millionaires from coffee proceeds in the previous season, illustrating the crop’s potential as a commercial enterprise. 'Coffee farming is a business. It is an office whereby one is supposed to get into and get into it in depth,' he said.
The surge in earnings coincides with national efforts to revitalize Kenya’s coffee industry. The Ministry of Agriculture aims to increase national production from 50,000 to 150,000 metric tonnes within three years through initiatives like high-yielding seedlings, cooperative strengthening, and market reforms. For Kirinyaga farmers, the impact is tangible: improved returns are enabling investments in education, livestock, and farm expansion. 'The money earned from our farms allows us to pay school fees, workers, and reinvest in coffee,' said Ndamberi, reflecting the broader economic revival driven by the sector’s success.