Arabika Data and Resources

7 Counties

How coffee sector is run by cartels and what DP Gachagua should do

While coffee is the second most traded commodity in the world, our coffee production has plummeted from a high of 130,000 tonnes in 1988 to a low of 34,000 tonnes in 2021 and 51, 583 tonnes last year. Today, we rank number five in Africa in terms of production.

Farmers to sell coffee directly through NCE

Farmers will now be allowed to sell their coffee directly through the auction after the State moved to cut off the brokers blamed for profiteering.

This follows the reopening of the Nairobi Coffee Exchange (NCE) auction on Tuesday, a month after it was suspended following confusion over the issuance of trading licences by the government

Coffee prices dip, layoffs loom amid Rigathi Gachagua reforms

The volume and prices of coffee sold at the Nairobi Coffee Exchange (NCE) have fallen sharply as traders and buyers kept off the market amid looming worker layoffs by processors as confusion over the issuance of trading permits by the State intensified.

State investigates 'missing' coffee as millers hold over 100,000 bags

As the government takes the battle to the cartels it accuses of choking the  lucrative coffee sector, teams of detectives and State spies have been dispatched to a number of millers across the country. The spies and the sleuths are part of a multi-agency team trying to unravel the mystery of the whereabouts of large amount of coffee at a time when the Nairobi Coffee Exchange has been starved of the commodity

Arabika Project Newsletter- Jan-July 2023

It's wonderful to hear about the progress and successes that have been achieved in the coffee value chain, particularly through the ARABIKA Project. Celebrating these achievements is indeed important, as it reflects the positive impact on both the industry and the lives of the people involved. The empowerment of women and youth in managerial roles and the improvements in coffee production are significant milestones. It's also commendable that seven Counties have been positively impacted, with the establishment of equipped laboratories to enhance coffee quality. These initiatives not only support the local  coffee industry but also contribute to the development of skills and knowledge in coffee tasting. While challenges are inevitable, it's inspiring to see ARABIKA's unwavering commitment to addressing and overcoming them. Challenges in any sector can be seen as opportunities for growth and transformation, and it's evident that ARABIKA is taking this perspective to heart in Kenya and beyond.

Nyeri International Coffee Expo Kicks Off With World Dealers Visiting

The two-day Nyeri International Coffee Expo (NICE) being held at Dedan Kimathi University of Technology has attracted over 20 international coffee buyers.

The NICE Chief Executive Solomon Mburu said the event sought to connect  Nyeri farmers with direct international buyers killing the middlemen and making the farmers smile all the way to the bank.

Nyeri International Coffee Expo Kicks Off With World Dealers Visiting

The two-day Nyeri International Coffee Expo (NICE) being held at Dedan Kimathi University of Technology has attracted over 20 international coffee buyers.

The NICE Chief Executive Solomon Mburu said the event sought to connect  Nyeri farmers with direct international buyers killing the middlemen and making the farmers smile all the way to the bank.

Nairobi Coffee Exchange: Surge in auction volumes signals sector recovery

After a prolonged period of low activity with millers and cooperatives shying away from the auction, the Nairobi Coffee Exchange (NCE) is experiencing a resurgence in coffee volumes presented at its auctions.

Over the last four weekly auctions, a notable influx of buyers has been observed, attributing the success to the stability backed by government support.

Insiders in the coffee sector note an increase in cooperatives and estates participating in the auction, a positive shift from the low volumes reported in August and Septembe

This is how State can ensure coffee farmers get good prices

The coffee sub-sector is now different for three main reasons. One, the volumes of coffee traded at the auction, two the prices being realised and finally the players. This started in 2019 when coffee regulations were drafted aimed at addressing the many challenges faced by farmers.

Farmers have always complained of multiple licensing in the sector. This has the probability of causing a conflict of interest. Multiple licensing is where a company gets a coffee dry milling license, gets a warehousing license, a coffee marketing license and finally a coffee buying license

How Meru coffee farmer gets over 100kgs per tree from his bushes

As coffee farmers break their backs on their farms to produce an average of three kilograms from a single tree, Charles Mutwiri is an exception.

Through his Mukarimu Coffee Estate in Meru County, the 62-year-old has over 20,000 bushes in different parcels of land spread across Imenti.

Mutwiri made a good impression when Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, who was attending the Coffee Summit in Meru recently, visited his farm to learn how he has achieved success in coffee farming.

Italy support to revamp the Kenyan coffee sector

The Italian government is committed to using its expertise in revamping the coffee sector in Kenya. Speaking at his official residence, the Italian Ambassador to Kenya Roberto Natali said that coffee constitutes a symbol and an excellent example of the strong cooperation which exists between the two countries. 

The envoy said he was pleased and honoured to host the event on the revamping of the coffee value chain in Kenya through a project dubbed, Arabika, “from bean to cup”