The Kenya Export Promotion and Branding Agency (KEPROBA) and the Coffee Directorate of the Agriculture and Food Authority (AFA) have signed a partnership agreement that will see the two organisations collaborate with Kenyan businesses in the coffee industry.
The partnership aims to strengthen Kenya’s presence in the coffee market through joint ventures and promote the country’s coffee industry internationally.
Kenyan coffee exports have experienced changes since 2016, mainly due to lower production. This decline is linked to land changes that have led to smaller areas for coffee cultivation, higher production costs, unsustainable coffee prices and inconsistent weather conditions. Additionally, 97% of Kenyan coffee is exported as green beans and the country relies on traditional trade, resulting in lower overall revenues.
Several factors have contributed to the success of this approach, including increasing coffee production from 34,511 metric tons in 2021/21 to 51,853 metric tons in 2021/2022, increasing direct sales to buyers worldwide, and reducing the impact on traditional businesses compared to new business dependencies such as South Korea and Japan. Importantly, government support through coffee transfers and payments through the Nairobi Coffee Exchange’s Direct Payment System (DSS) has also contributed to the growth of the sector.
KEPROBA CEO Floice Mukabana said it was possible to build capacity, expand Kenya’s export scope and improve market access.
AFA Director General Bruno Linyiru said that promoting local coffee should encourage Kenyans to make coffee a part of their daily lives, which could further support the development of the economy.
The partnership will also focus on core activities such as market research, capacity building and development of Kenyan coffee brands.
Both parties agree to work with coffee industry stakeholders to organize and participate in joint marketing and communication activities, including local and international fairs, trade shows, meetings between vendors, historical tours or markets aimed at establishing business connections for Kenyan Producers and Exporters.
The partnership’s key activities include business research and intelligence. Both parties will provide producers with information on developing effective export strategies and building capacity to help coffee producers meet international trade standards and share markets.
The office will work together to create and promote a single, recognized name for Kenyan coffee.
