Baseline Assessment for the Coffee Project under the Pathways to Prosperity Program - Kenya: Final Baseline Report
Kenyan coffee farmers in the P2P area are held back by disease, pests and high input costs, and most use no protective equipment. Women farm much smaller plots and have less say over coffee resources.
Overview
AfriDev Economic Consulting carried out this baseline for Solidaridad ECA's P2P coffee project, funded by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Published in May 2023, it covers coffee farmers in Kericho, Nandi, Bomet, Kisii and Nyamira counties. It analyses stakeholders, problems at each value chain node (production, primary and secondary processing, roasting, marketing and consumption), gender and social inclusion, and occupational health and safety. It also proposes project indicators. Farmer figures refer to the 2022 season and are broken down by sex and by age group (18-35 vs above 35).
Key findings
- Farmers owned an average of 1.50 acres (male 1.86, female 0.61) and 1,657 coffee trees (male 2,063, female 589), of which 85% were productive in 2022.
- Average productivity was 4.09 kg/tree (male 4.48, female 2.71; above 35: 4.61, aged 18-35: 2.63). The report notes this is above the national figure of 2 kg/tree.
- The main production constraints were disease (59%), insect pests (49%) and high labour costs (44%). About 40% of farmers reported low yields and 27% low quality.
- Average net income from coffee in 2022 was KES 88,913. Production costs took about 58% of gross revenue, and fertiliser was 49% of total costs.
- 54% of farmers used no personal protective equipment, rising to 64% among those aged 18-35. 39% of workers had access to no safety facilities, and only 2% of farmers had first-aid kits. 12% of farmers kept their workers' documents.
- Batian (57%) and Ruiru 11 (55%) were the most planted varieties, but most seedlings were uncertified and came from local seed-beds. 41% of farmers named climate change as a major problem.
- Women and youth have less access to and control over land, income, training and extension services. There was no institutionalised approach to social inclusion along the value chain.
In figures
4.48 kg per tree
2.71 kg per tree
4.61 kg per tree
2.63 kg per tree
The national average is about 2 kg/tree.
Data table
| Item | kg per tree |
|---|---|
| Male farmers | 4.48 |
| Female farmers | 2.71 |
| Farmers above 35 | 4.61 |
| Farmers aged 18-35 | 2.63 |
59 % of farmers
49 % of farmers
44 % of farmers
40 % of farmers
Data table
| Item | % of farmers |
|---|---|
| Disease | 59 |
| Insect pests | 49 |
| High labour costs | 44 |
| Low yields | 40 |
Recommendations
- Advocate for county subsidies on suitable coffee inputs (fertiliser and pesticides), raise awareness of existing government credit, and build FCS capacity in credit management.
- Promote improved varieties by improving access to certified seedlings and top-working skills. Support clonal gardens, especially in Bomet, Kisii and Nyamira.
- Train FCS extension staff and lead farmers as 'Plant Doctors', set up demonstration farms, and run training that follows the crop cycle.
- Raise awareness of PPE use, and support FCS and mills to put safety facilities into operation (first aid, fire equipment, exits, water).
- Train FCS staff and home processors in quality processing. Support solar-drying greenhouses and eco-pulpers, and help micro-roasters with start-up capital and business skills.
- Promote domestic consumption through digital and local radio campaigns, coffee events in learning institutions, and small coffee enterprises.
- Increase women's, youth's and differently abled persons' access to credit with lower collateral requirements, technologies and training. Support women-in-coffee associations and FCS leadership rules such as the two-thirds gender rule.
Lessons learned
- Some projects unintentionally reinforced gender stereotypes by focusing women's training on reproductive roles such as nutrition and food preparation.
Methodology
Mixed-methods design: a structured face-to-face survey of 200 randomly sampled coffee farmers across five counties, KIIs with 14 stakeholders, 4 FGDs with farmers and cooperative officials, and a desk review. Quantitative data were analysed in Stata and qualitative data thematically in NVivo.