More farmers in Siaya County have been urged to adopt the growing of Robusta coffee as a cash crop
The area CEC for Agriculture, Dr. Elizabeth Odhiambo, made the call saying that only 60 acres of the crop has been planted, against a potential of 3,000 acres.
The CEC said the county government in collaboration with the Coffee Directorate at Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Authority (AFFA), were committed to expand the crop’s acreage.
Dr. Odhiambo said the county government would provide farmers with coffee seedlings free of charge, as the Coffee Directorate monitors adherence to growing standards and finding market for the produce.
She was speaking during the distribution of 2,000 seedlings in Bondo Sub-County, saying that all willing farmers with ready land will be given the seedlings.
The County Director for Agriculture, Mr Vincent Okoth, said many farmers abandoned the growing of coffee over twenty years ago, because of mismanagement of cooperatives that were marketing their produce.
The Director therefore urged farmers to take advantage of the new initiative to spare land for the crop. He said with the adherence to the recommended crop husbandry, one coffee bush would produce between 50-100 kg of berries in the third year, earning at least Sh2,000 with the price of Sh40 per kg. One acre carries at least 500 coffee trees, which would earn sh1 million per harvest.
By Paul Olale
