The County Government of Homa Bay, through its department of Agriculture in collaboration with the department of Cooperatives, organized a consultative forum to address key issues and opportunities within the coffee sector.
The forum, held at the Ogera Coffee Cooperative Society premises, brought together coffee farmers and key stakeholders to revitalize coffee production in the county.
The Homa Bay County Deputy Governor, Hon. Joseph Oyugi Magwanga presided over the meeting, as the County Executive Committee Member for Agriculture.
It served as a platform for coffee farmers to engage directly with experts and explore ways to leverage opportunities for boosting coffee production. A key focus of the discussions was the available financial opportunities for farmers, including borrowing options from designated funds under the National Agricultural Value Chain Development Project (NAVCDP), which supports coffee through SACCOS and Producer Organizations as a key value chain in the county.
Participants were urged to embrace coffee farming as a lucrative venture that holds the potential for high returns on investment.
Farmers were also encouraged to collaborate with local authorities to address issues such as coffee theft by working with the administration to ensure security in coffee aggregation stores.
Addressing environmental concerns, the Deputy Governor advised farmers against cutting down trees to create space for coffee farming, suggesting instead that they plant coffee along boundaries or use it as a hedge, especially where land is limited.
The forum also offered an opportunity for participants to sample various coffee products and learn about best practices in coffee farming. Additionally, attendees received branded merchandise from the event organizers.
The consultative meeting marked a significant step toward enhancing coffee production in Homa Bay County, as the government, in collaboration with its partners, continues to support farmers and strengthen the coffee value chain.