In recent weeks, the Arabika project in Kenya has been concluded. This successful initiative of the Italian cooperation agency has enabled the growth of over 30 thousand coffee growers in Kenya, improving productivity and coffee quality, guaranteeing fair access to markets and promoting sustainable agricultural practices.
Funded by the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation, the project was carried out in collaboration with CEFA – Il Seme della Solidarietà, AVSI Foundation and E4Impact Foundation.
With the establishment of 210 demonstration fields and the training of 149 young people in key positions, the farmers received training in climate-smart production techniques, governance and branding, helping to increase the visibility of Kenyan coffee internationally.
Some of the farmers themselves comment on the success of the Italian initiative for their sector.

John Festus Ireri, from Embu Farmer County, says: ‘I joined the Arabika project about three years ago and since then I have benefited considerably as a farmer. One of the main problems we faced was a lack of knowledge about how to grow coffee effectively. Although we have been growing coffee for some time, we were not using modern methods and we were not informed about the correct management of the plant’.
Ireri will never stop thanking Arabika.
‘Thanks to their assistance,’ he says, ’I've realised that there is much more to know about growing coffee. We discovered that some of the methods we were using were obsolete: for example, many people used machetes to harvest the coffee, whereas now we have learnt the importance of more suitable tools, such as pruning shears. In addition, Arabika taught us a lot about plant nutrition: before, we only used animal manure, but we realised that chemical fertilisers are essential for optimal coffee production. Moreover, thanks to the Arabika project, we managed to increase our production. We also shared this knowledge with other farmers, who saw significant improvements in their yields. As a result, coffee prices have started to rise. Now we need to focus on two crucial aspects: quality and quantity. When we manage to achieve both, we start to see a tangible economic return for farmers’.

Andrew Mamai, president of the Menu Farmers cooperative, which has more than 4,400 employees, is of the same opinion.
‘The Arabika project has had a significant impact on our society. Thanks to the training received, members have significantly improved their agricultural practices. The training has in fact allowed farmers to adopt more effective and sustainable methods, thus contributing to the overall success of our cooperative,’ explained Mamai.
‘We are very grateful for everything the Arabika Project has done for us, because without their support many of the choices we have made would not have been possible. Special thanks also go to our farmers, who, thanks to the training they received, have shown great initiative. We hope that in the future every new Arabika project will involve us again’, concludes David Njoroge Mwihia, president of Gitwe Coffee.