Nakuru County, located in Kenya’s agriculturally fertile Rift Valley region, is known for its diverse range of cash crops, including coffee, tea, floriculture, pyrethrum, and more recently, Irish potatoes.
These crops contribute significantly to both the local economy and Kenya’s national agricultural output, with farmers benefiting from favorable climate conditions and government support. Despite these achievements, cash crop farming in Nakuru has faced some challenges over the years, affecting overall performance.
The County Executive Member for Agriculture Leonard Bor says tea and coffee remain two of Nakuru’s primary cash crops. Tea plantations, particularly in areas like Njoro, have thrived due to favorable climatic conditions, consistent rainfall, and improved farming practices.
Similarly, coffee farming has grown, driven by cooperative movements allowing smallholder farmers to pool resources and secure better prices. The coffee grown in the county is mainly Arabica, favored for its high quality and market demand both locally and internationally.
Bor notes that Floriculture has turned Nakuru into a major player in the global flower industry. Flower farms, particularly those near Naivasha, have created employment for thousands of residents and contribute significantly to Kenya’s export economy. And, it’s one of the top foreign exchange earners for the country generating approximately one billion USA dollars according to the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics.
Nakuru’s flower farms have earned a global reputation for producing roses, lilies, and carnations, which are shipped to major European markets. Strategic partnerships with international investors and sustainable farming practices have ensured the county remains competitive in floriculture.
Once a leading producer of pyrethrum (a plant used in natural insecticides), Nakuru has seen a gradual revival of the crop in recent years after decades of decline.
Efforts by the national and county governments, alongside private sector players, have encouraged more farmers to return to pyrethrum farming by offering incentives and providing modern farming techniques.
This shift is slowly restoring Nakuru to its previous status as one of the world’s major pyrethrum producers.
However, the County Executive for Agriculture says one of the primary challenges affecting Nakuru’s cash crop sector is the impact of climate change. Unpredictable rainfall patterns, prolonged droughts, and occasional floods have disrupted farming cycles, leading to reduced yields. This has been particularly evident in tea and coffee production, where the crops are highly dependent on specific climatic conditions.
Additionally, he said the international market prices for crops like tea, coffee, and flowers are highly volatile, and this unpredictability affects farmers’ income. Many farmers in Nakuru have had to grapple with low prices for their produce due to global economic shifts, competition from other countries, and fluctuating demand in key markets. This situation is exacerbated by a lack of robust value-addition mechanisms to help stabilize prices.
While progress has been made, he noted that poor infrastructure, including inadequate road networks, affects the timely delivery of cash crops to markets. Farmers in remote areas of Nakuru struggle with getting their produce to collection points or major trading hubs, often resulting in crop losses or reduced quality by the time the produce reaches the market. Poor storage facilities further exacerbate these losses, particularly for perishable crops like flowers.
The chairman of smallholder farmers in Nakuru county, Bernard Mwenje said their members face challenges accessing affordable credit, which limits their ability to invest in modern farming technologies.
Additionally, despite the county government’s empowerment funds, access to financial institutions remains limited for many farmers. Additionally, rising costs of farm inputs like fertilizers, pesticides, and seeds have made it difficult for farmers to maintain high production.
Peter Salim, a manager in one of the large flower farms said while floriculture has been a major success story for Nakuru, the industry faces occasional labor shortages due to the seasonal nature of the work and competition from other employment sectors. This, coupled with rising labor costs, has at times impacted flower production capacity, especially during peak seasons.
Bor said in response to these challenges, Nakuru County’s government, under the leadership of Governor Susan Kihika, has initiated several programs aimed at improving agricultural productivity.
The introduction of mechanized farming, particularly for crops like Irish potatoes, aims to enhance efficiency and reduce labor dependency. Additionally, partnerships with organizations such as Kenya Land Alliance and We Effect are helping farmers gain access to land rights and modern farming technologies.
To address climate-related issues, Bor stated that farmers in Nakuru are increasingly adopting sustainable agricultural practices, including water conservation techniques and the use of drought-resistant crop varieties. The county’s efforts to revive pyrethrum farming also promise to diversify cash crop farming and reduce dependency on more climate-sensitive crops.
Despite the challenges, Nakuru’s cash crop sector has seen remarkable achievements, especially in floriculture and the recent revival of pyrethrum farming. However, the industry faces ongoing challenges such as climate change, market volatility, and infrastructure limitations.
With continued government support, strategic partnerships, and farmer resilience, Nakuru’s agricultural sector is poised to remain a critical contributor to Kenya’s economy.
By Veronica Bosibori
