Uasin Gishu Trains Farmers on Coffee Processing to Improve Quality

The County Government of Uasin Gishu County has intensified efforts to boost coffee quality by training farmers on modern processing techniques aimed at enhancing the value and competitiveness of their produce.

In partnership with Linkage Africa Limited, the county on Wednesday a capacity-building session where farmers were taken through critical stages of coffee handling, from harvest to post-processing.

During the training, participants learned best practices such as proper selection and separation of coffee cherries, removal of immature produce, pulping methods, and effective pulp waste management. Farmers were also introduced to mucilage removal techniques and the use of mechanical rotary batch dryers—innovations expected to improve consistency and overall coffee quality.

Officials noted that poor post-harvest handling has long affected the marketability of coffee from the region, often leading to lower earnings for farmers. The training, therefore, seeks to address these gaps by equipping farmers with practical, hands-on skills.

Speaking at the session, Agriculture County Executive Committee Member Dr. Sam Kotut emphasized the importance of adopting proper post-harvest practices, noting that quality improvement begins immediately after picking.

“This training is designed to empower our farmers with the knowledge and skills needed to handle their coffee properly and fetch better prices in the market,” he said.

The initiative is part of the county’s broader strategy to revitalize coffee farming as a key economic activity, improve farmer incomes, and position Uasin Gishu as a competitive player in the coffee value chain.

Farmers who attended the session expressed optimism that the new skills would help them produce higher-quality coffee and access better markets both locally and internationally.