Kenya exports first consignment of coffee to South Korea
By Bisola Adeyemo
Farmers in Kenya are set to enjoy great benefits from the proceeds of the sale of the exported coffee as no fewer than 134.4 metric tonnes of coffee valued at Sh110 million was exported from Kericho County in Kenya to South Korea.
Speaking at the flagging off ceremony, Kericho County Governor, Prof. Paul Kiprono Chepkwony, lauded efforts in implementation of the recommendations of the National Task-Force on the coffee sub-sector reforms -2016, saying they had started to bear fruits.
“Kipkelion District Coffee Union together with the County Government of Kericho played a key role in looking for this and other potential markets in the UK, Germany, Middle East, and some Scandinavian countries,” said Prof. Chepkwony.
One of the Executive Committee Members in the Agriculture sector Philip Mason, encouraged coffee farmers particularly the small-scale farmers to continue adopting good agricultural practices for a bountiful harvest.
Kenya news agency (KNA) reports coffee is the second most important cash crop in Kericho County after tea which is majorly grown in Kipkelion West Sub-County but the other Sub-Counties have some substantial portions of the cash crop.
Coffee is one of the most important cash crops in Kenya. It is grown in large scale plantations. About 50,000 tons of coffee are produced annually. The main variety in Kenya is Arabica coffee.