Igembe south: The government has distributed 5,000 coffee seedlings in Igembe South sub-county, Meru County, as part of a national strategy to improve farmer returns and strengthen the agricultural sector. The seedlings were distributed to farmers in Makiri, Anchenge, Athiru Gaiti, Kanthiari, Athi, Tiira, and surrounding areas, targeting at least seven coffee factories in the region.

According to Kenya News Agency, the government's coffee revitalization programme aims to expand acreage under the crop, increase production, and improve the livelihoods of the people. Anchenge coffee factory Chairman, Benson Kithinji, noted that the intervention had already begun to transform the sector. He highlighted a previous batch of 5,000 seedlings that significantly boosted farmers' morale and encouraged wider participation in coffee farming.

Kithinji reported that production is steadily increasing as more farmers embrace coffee, emphasizing that empowerment through government programmes is more meaningful than political rhetoric. He urged residents to continue planting coffee trees, highlighting a sharp improvement in coffee prices. Farmers who previously earned between Sh40 and Sh50 per kilogramme are now receiving between Sh80 and Sh90, with the minimum payment not falling below Sh80.

Farmers at the event echoed similar sentiments, noting increased earnings and timely payments as key benefits of the government's renewed focus on agriculture. Caroline Karema described the seedling distribution as timely for expanding production at the household level. Ntinyari Kithinji mentioned that earlier distributions allowed each farmer to receive at least 10 seedlings, increasing the number of coffee trees across farms. She also welcomed plans to fence the factory to enhance security and protect farmers' produce.

Christopher Mbaabu credited the government for reviving the Anchenge coffee factory, which had previously been affected by cartels and mismanagement. Salesius Mithika, a member of the factory, pointed to tangible gains, revealing recent sales of 19,700 kilogrammes of coffee, with farmers earning up to Sh90 per kilogramme.

Farmers reiterated the call for continued government support, including interventions in other cash crops such as miraa, to ensure fairness across the agricultural sector.