Coffee production in Kenya

Coffee production in Kenya

The coffee industry of Kenya is noted for its cooperative system of production, processing, milling, marketing, and auctioning coffee. About 70% of Kenyan coffee is produced by small scale holders. It is estimated that six-million Kenyans are employed directly or indirectly in the coffee industry. The major coffee growing regions in Kenya are the High Plateaus around Mt. Kenya, the Aberdare Range, Kisii, Nyanza, Bungoma, Nakuru and Kericho. The high plateaus of Mount Kenya, plus the acidic soil provide excellent conditions for growing coffee plants. Coffee from Kenya is of the 'mild arabica' type and is well known for its intense flavor, full body, and pleasant aroma. Since 1989, production in this East African country fell from about 130,000 thousand metric tons to 50,000 tons in 2009.

Contents

History

Coffee plantation in Kenya in 1936

Despite its proximity to Ethiopia (widely believed to be the region from which coffee originated), coffee was not cultivated in Kenya until 1893, when French Holy Ghost Fathers introduced coffee trees from Reunion Island. The mission farms near Nairobi, the capital city of Kenya, were used as the nucleus around which Kenyan coffee growing developed.

Screen Size

While it may be widely known as a type of Kenya coffee, Kenya AA is actually a classification of coffee grown in Kenya. All Kenyan coffee is graded after it is milled. Grades are assigned based on the screen size of the bean. Beans with a screen size of 17 or 18 (17/64 or 18/64 of an inch) are assigned the grade AA, generally the largest bean. While the large bean size is considered by many to be a sign of quality, it is important to note that it is only one of many factors in determining high quality coffee.

Kenya Coffee is traded once a week at the Nairobi Coffee Exchange. It is based at The Coffee Plaza, Exchange Lane which is off Haile Selassie Avenue.

The coffee is packed in single sisal bags of 60 kg, but the bids are made per 50 kg bag.

Below is a sample of average prices of coffee (per 60 kg bag) at the auction.

  • AA - $153.90
  • AB - $114.21
  • C - $97.29
  • PB - $120.00
  • T - $83.79
  • TT - $111.83
  • UG1 -$91.50
  • UG2 -$82.90
  • UG3- $71.50[1]

Notable coffee estates, cooperatives and factories

  • Gikanda Cooperative Society — Gichathaini, Kangocho and Ndaroini Factories (Mathira, Nyeri)
  • Kirimiri (Thika)[2]
  • Tekangu Cooperative Society — Tegu, Karogoto and Ngunguru Factories (Mathira, Nyeri)
  • Thiriku Farmers Co-op Society (Thingingi Area, Nyeri)

See also

  • Sasini Tea and Coffee
  • C Dorman Limited
  • Fanzin Coffee and Tea

References

  • International Coffee Organization - Exports by Exporting Countries, [1]. Accessed on 14 June 2006.
  • Overview of the Kenyan coffee industry, [2]. Accessed on 14 June 2006.
  • Kenya coffee [3]

External links


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужно сделать НИР?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Coffee industry of Kenya — Kenya is the 17th largest producer of coffee in the world. The coffee industry of Kenya is noted for its cooperative system of milling, marketing, and auctioning coffee, and for its high percentage of production from small farms. It is estimated… …   Wikipedia

  • Coffee production in India — Coffee forests in India Coffee plantation in India …   Wikipedia

  • Coffee production in Bolivia — Coffee plant in Yungas, Bolivia. Coffee production in Bolivia has had a long history in the country. Coffee is grown in regions of 800–2,300 metres (2,600–7,500 ft) above the sea level.[1] Hist …   Wikipedia

  • Coffee production in Haiti — Coffee has been a staple of the Caribbean nation of Haiti since its initial colonization by France in the 17th century. Alongside sugar and tobacco, it has long formed the backbone of Haiti s economy. Today, similar to many other Caribbean… …   Wikipedia

  • Coffee production in Nicaragua — Coffee farm in the highlands of Quilalí. Coffee production in Nicaragua has been an important part of its history and economy. It is one of the country s principal products. The areas most suitable for the cultivation of coffee have been Managua… …   Wikipedia

  • Coffee production in Costa Rica — A coffee plantation in the Orosí valley The coffee production in Costa Rica played a key role in the country s history and still is important for the Costa Rican economy. In 2006, coffee was Costa Rica s number three export,[1] after …   Wikipedia

  • Coffee production in El Salvador — Green Coffee processing in Ahuachapan Coffee production in El Salvador has fueled the Salvadoran economy and shaped its history for more than a century. Rapidly growing in the 19th century, coffee in El Salvador has traditionally provided more… …   Wikipedia

  • Coffee production in Indonesia — An old man is peeling coffee near megalithic stones at Bena, Ngada, Flores Indonesia produced 420,000 metric tons of coffee in 2007. Of this total, 271,000 tons were exported and 148,000 …   Wikipedia

  • Coffee production in Papua New Guinea — Papua New Guinea raw arabica coffee beans Coffee production in Papua New Guinea accounts for approximately 1% of world production according to the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD).[1] After …   Wikipedia

  • Coffee production in Vietnam — Terraced Coffee Plants in Vietnam Coffee production has been a major source of income for Vietnam since the early 20th century. First introduced by the French in 1857, the Vietnamese coffee industry developed through the plantation system,… …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”