Elgeyo Marakwet has partnered with World Vision to promote coffee farming along the escarpment to not only diversify sources of income at the family level but also in mitigating against climate change.
Dickson Githaiga from World Vision said the organisation was working with the government in encouraging farmers to adopt agro forestry saying coffee bushes contribute in reducing emissions of greenhouse gases especially from farms.
Speaking during a coffee fair at the Iten sportsground, Githaiga called on farmers to strive to use organic fertiliser when planting saying this also helps in reducing emissions.
He added that coffee contributes to biodiversity enhancement thus increasing the level of carbon absorption which reduces global warming which is contributing to climate change.
Addressing the same gathering, the governor Wisley Rotich said the department of agriculture will establish coffee nurseries along the escarpment in readiness for planting next year.
He added that the department in conjunction with that of cooperatives will register all farmers willing to engage in coffee farming in addition to training lead farmers who will in turn train other farmers to bridge the gap of lack of extension officers in the county.
The Governor appealed to farmers to join cooperative societies which will in turn form one major society which they will use to market their coffee.
By Alice Wanjiru
