AFA Awards Fuel Kenya’s Coffee Revival Through Quality and Market Access

Also Read: KENYAS EYES COFFE REVIVAL DURING INTERNATIONAL COFFEE DAY

Nairobi  Kenya

KEY HIGHLIGHTS 

Kenya’s coffee sector is regaining momentum through a quality-driven, farmer-centred strategy anchored by the AFA–AFCA Taste of Harvest Awards, which spotlight exceptional producers and connect them to premium specialty markets. The initiative has expanded participation, lowered entry barriers, and strengthened international visibility for Kenyan coffee, while aligning with broader government reforms on regulation, traceability, and value addition. Backed by investments in digital systems, infrastructure, and farmer support, the approach positions quality, youth participation, and market diversification as the core engines of a sustainable coffee comeback.

AFA’s Director General  Felix Mutwiri welcomed participants and congratulated the award recipients, noting that their achievement reflected both excellence and resilience within Kenya’s coffee subsector. He emphasized that quality-focused platforms such as Taste of Harvest are designed to ensure farmers are not only seen, but competitively positioned in premium markets.

Coffee production, he observed, demands discipline and consistency. From farm to mill, every stage carries risk, and recognition at a national level offers producers reassurance that their effort and investment matter. The Director General acknowledged the role of government leadership, particularly from the State Department for Agriculture, in steering reforms that support farmers while safeguarding quality.

Central to the awards was the growing collaboration between AFA and AFCA. The Director General described the Taste of Harvest initiative as a mature partnership that has evolved into a credible benchmark for quality excellence. Through this platform, Kenyan producers gain exposure to specialty coffee buyers and international markets that reward differentiation and traceability.

Taste of Harvest forms part of a continental framework implemented across AFCA member countries. National competitions feed into a regional African contest, where coffees are evaluated using internationally recognized Specialty Coffee Association standards and AFCA’s official protocols. This structure ensures Kenyan coffees are assessed against global benchmarks rather than local expectations alone.

Participation this year signaled rising confidence. Entries nearly doubled, with 100 producers submitting samples compared to 56 the previous year. AFA waived the standard participation fee for non-AFCA members, a move aimed at lowering barriers and encouraging wider farmer involvement. For many entrants, it marked their first exposure to professional cupping and structured quality feedback.

Beyond the trophies, the Director General outlined ongoing sector interventions. AFA, he said, continues to implement measures focused on boosting production, improving productivity, and raising farmer incomes while maintaining strict quality controls. Regulatory reforms under the Crops (Coffee) (General) Regulations, 2019 have strengthened coordination, governance, and transparency across the value chain, offering greater protection to farmers.

Licensing and quality assurance systems have also been streamlined to improve market access. Initiatives like Taste of Harvest, he noted, play a critical role in linking quality performance directly to better commercial outcomes.

Digital transformation featured prominently in the discussion. AFA is advancing traceability and data systems, including work toward a National Coffee Information System. The platform is expected to enhance transparency, support compliance with sustainability requirements, and respond to growing international scrutiny around origin and production practices.

Value addition remains a strategic priority. Kenya, the Director General said, must reduce its reliance on green coffee exports by investing more heavily in specialty processing, branding, local roasting, and diversified markets. Quality-driven platforms help translate these ambitions into tangible income gains for farmers.

The Principal Secretary in the State Department for Agriculture echoed these sentiments, congratulating the award winners and recognizing their role in shaping the sector’s future. He described their success as evidence of commitment to innovation and quality, and a powerful signal of Kenya’s strength as a specialty coffee origin.

He noted that coffee continues to anchor millions of livelihoods nationwide, involving roughly 800,000 smallholder farmers and supporting over six million Kenyans directly and indirectly. Kenya’s predominantly Arabica production remains globally respected for its flavour profile and consistency, but output levels remain below potential.

Annual production, he said, averages between 40,000 and 50,000 metric tonnes — a figure that underscores the need for sustained revitalization. Government efforts now focus on rehabilitating aging coffee trees, promoting climate-smart practices, improving access to inputs, and strengthening extension services to raise yields and sustain profitability.

Youth engagement was highlighted as essential to long-term recovery. With land pressure increasing and farming demographics shifting, making coffee economically attractive to younger producers is a policy priority. Productivity, market access, and value addition are seen as key incentives.

Market reforms under the 2019 regulations continue to address pricing transparency, timely payments, and fair returns.. At the same time, global compliance pressures — including emerging sustainability and traceability requirements such as the EU Deforestation Regulation — are shaping domestic policy and digital investments.

As the event drew to a close, the Principal Secretary described the award winners as representatives of Kenya’s coffee potential. Their performance, he said, demonstrates that quality-led production can drive higher incomes, stronger markets, and renewed confidence in the sector.

When the final cups were set down and conversations resumed, the message was clear. The Taste of Harvest Awards were not only about excellence in the cup, but about restoring belief — that with the right policies, partnerships, and platforms, Kenyan coffee farmers can once again command their place at the top of the global value chain.