NAIROBI, Kenya / AfricaWire.IO / – Kenya is banking on new coffee varieties to boost production, improve yields and help farmers cope with climate change as it targets annual output of 150,000 metric tonnes. Henry Kinyua, chairperson of the Coffee Board of Kenya, said researchers had developed promising varieties that could transform the sector. However, inadequate research funding had delayed their release to farmers, he told the East Africa Coffee Market & Conference (EACMC 2026). Kenya’s coffee production is projected at about 60,000 metric tonnes in the 2025/2026 season.
Kinyua said Kenya had underinvested in coffee research over the past two to three decades. That limited the development of varieties able to improve productivity and respond to changing climatic conditions. “We have not been funding our research,” he said, adding that new varieties would soon be released to farmers. Among them is a hybrid combining Arabica and Robusta characteristics, known as “Arabusta”, which researchers at the Coffee Research Institute are working on.
Kinyua said several varieties needed further support before they could be released. He said the Coffee Act of 2026 provides for funding for coffee research and training. Establishing the Coffee Research and Training Institute as a standalone agency could help mobilise additional resources, he added. Increased investment would speed up the development of planting materials suited to rising temperatures and other climate-related challenges.
Seedling shortage slows renewal
Access to planting materials remains a major challenge for the sector. Kinyua estimated annual demand for coffee seedlings at about 40 million, compared with production of roughly 10 million by research institutions and other nurseries. The shortfall slows efforts to replace ageing trees, establish new plantations and introduce improved varieties. Average production per coffee bush has remained around two kilogrammes, well below its potential under good management.
Kinyua said Kenya had achieved much higher yields per bush in the 1980s and that better agronomic practices could reverse the decline. Kiprono Kittony, chairman of the Kenya Airways board, challenged researchers and industry players to find ways to quadruple production without expanding acreage. “We need water at farm level,” Kittony said, adding that reliable water supplies and better agronomic support were essential. He said many smallholders could not afford the necessary water infrastructure.
Value addition and market links
Kittony urged farmers to start with soil analysis, rainfall assessment and water planning before planting. He warned that poor soil preparation and nutrient management could undermine yields after the first few harvests, a concern as fertiliser costs rise across Africa. He called for stronger investment in wet and dry milling, roasting, packaging and storage. He also encouraged the industry to explore confectionery, cosmetics, coffee tourism and greater domestic consumption.
Edward Githaiga, representing Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Abraham Korir Sing’Oei, said Kenya must strengthen links between coffee producers and international markets. He said quality, traceability and consistency were essential to compete globally. Global coffee chains such as Starbucks have reported strong results this year. Githaiga called for greater regional cooperation among African producers to attract buyers, investors and technology providers, and said the efforts should deliver better returns for farmers.