Kenya is constructing a new state-of-the-art coffee warehouse in Kirinyaga County set to benefit Over 120,000 smallholder coffee farmers.
The mega warehouse being built in Kimicha, is aimed at addressing storage limitations and strengthening the region’s coffee value chain. The facility, which is under construction at the Kirinyaga County Cooperative Union premises, will have the capacity to hold 40,000 bags of parchment coffee. It is part of the county’s broader effort to improve post-harvest handling, value addition, and market access for smallholder farmers.
Governor Anne Waiguru said the project aligns with her administration’s vision of empowering farmers to increase their income through better infrastructure and supportive policies.
“Once completed, the warehouse will allow us to store and mill coffee from across the county at a centralized facility. This is a major step towards enhancing the competitiveness of our coffee in both domestic and international markets,” Waiguru said.
Features
The warehouse, measuring 22 by 50 metres, will feature modern aeration systems to maintain the quality of stored coffee. It is expected to be completed by the end of the year and will support the county’s rising coffee production levels.
According to Geoffrey Kinyua, Chairman of the Kirinyaga County Cooperative Union, coffee production in the area has been increasing steadily. “Last year, we produced approximately 42,000 tonnes of cherry, and we project this to grow to 60,000 tonnes soon. The previous storage facilities were simply not sufficient to handle this volume,” he noted.
Farmers in the region currently market their coffee through the Kirinyaga Slopes Coffee Brokerage Company, a union-affiliated brokerage that received its license in 2023 with support from the county government. The firm now works with 14 cooperative societies, representing over 120,000 smallholder farmers.
The warehouse project is part of the National Agricultural Value Chain Development Project, which seeks to commercialize smallholder farming by improving access to markets and developing value-added processes. It also emphasizes sustainable practices and inclusive farmer support structures, such as Community Interest Groups (CIGs) and Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs).
Although Kenya’s overall coffee production is projected to drop by 6.3% in the 2024–2025 season due to urbanization pressures and a shortage of planting materials, initiatives like Kirinyaga’s warehouse project signal a strategic effort to safeguard and enhance the country’s coffee sector.
Source : LOGISTICS BUSINESS AFRICA
