Kenyan coffee farmers to benefit from regenerative, climate-smart agriculture

NAIROBI, June 27, 2025 – Coffee farmers from the Inoi Farmers’ Cooperative Society Limited in Kenya are set to benefit from a three-year initiative titled Brewing the Future – Coffee to Stay, funded by German-based coffee buyer Tchibo in partnership with the Mount Kenya Sustainable Landscape and Livelihoods [MSuLLi] programme, led by the Rainforest Alliance.

The project seeks to tackle challenges in the coffee sector by promoting regenerative agriculture, climate-smart practices, and greater inclusion of women and youth. Its overarching aim is to improve coffee yields, enhance quality, and build resilience against the effects of climate change.

These interventions are expected to contribute to the long-term sustainability of agriculture in the Mount Kenya region and improve the livelihoods of smallholder farmers.

The region is currently grappling with significant challenges such as climate change, land degradation, and socio-economic pressures, all of which threaten the viability of smallholder coffee farming, a vital component of the local economy.

According to Marion Ng’ang’a, Country Director of the Rainforest Alliance, the project targets around 5,000 farmers in Kirinyaga County with the aim of protecting nature and enhancing livelihoods.

“We will implement the project through three main pathways: promoting regenerative and climate-smart agriculture; strengthening the coffee business by improving productivity and quality; and ensuring the inclusion of women and youth in the coffee value chain through diversification of agricultural activities,” Ng’ang’a said during the project’s launch at Inoi Coffee Factory in Kerugoya.

Ng’ang’a also emphasised the importance of conserving the Mount Kenya ecosystem, a key water tower for the country, and protecting biodiversity, both essential for sustaining coffee production for current and future generations.

“We will also promote agroforestry using compatible, multipurpose trees, starting with high-value species recommended by the Coffee Research Institute. Farmers will be trained and supported to conduct soil analysis to identify nutrient deficiencies and apply fertilisers and organic manure based on actual needs rather than assumptions,” she added.

Felix Mwai, Chairperson of the Inoi Farmers’ Cooperative Society, welcomed the project, stating that it would lead to a significant transformation in the cooperative’s operations.

“Our goal is to increase our current annual production from 630,000 kilogrammes to 2.2 million kilogrammes. The training and support provided through this project will be key to achieving that target,” Mwai said.

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