GEOGRAPHY AND HISTORY

  The coffee tree originated from the southern highlands of Ethiopia. it Was introduced in Kenya by St. Austin's missionaries in Nairobi via Kibwezi, Taita, and Bura. Coffee Growing Areas a) Central Province - Nyeri, Muranga, Kiambu, Thika, Kirinyaga. b) E. Province - Embu, Machakos, Tharaka, Makueni and high areas of Meru. c) Coast Province - Taita Taveta in the Wundanyi area. d) W. Province - Bungoma, Vihiga, Kakamega. e) Nyanza Province - Kisii, Nyamira, Nyabondo, Oyugis. f) Nairobi Province - outskirts bordering Kiambu and Thika. Factors Favouring Coffee Growing Kenya Physical Factors High altitude (910-2100 m). Cool temperatures (14-26◦c). High and well-distributed rainfall (1000-2030 mm) annually. Deep and well-drained acidic soils. Undulating landscape to ensure good drainage and aeration. Human Factors An adequate supply of cheap labour for land preparation, planting, weeding, etc. Good roads for transporting coffee to factories and to the markets. Brazil She is the lea...

  Competition with unwanted weeds for plant nutrients leading to poor quality produce. Pests e.g. aphids which destroy the crop leaves leading to losses. Diseases e.g. root fungus disease which leads to poor quality output. Inadequate capital yet expensive machinery is used in tea processing. Scarcity of labour to do the plucking during the harvesting period. Competition with other countries producing cigarettes e.g. Marlboro and Rex from USA. Limited land for tea plantations due to ever increasing population . Soil exhaustion due to monoculture leading to low and poor quality yields. Unstable prices leading to price fluctuation on the world market which demoralizes the farmers. Natural hazards e.g. hailstorms which destroy large parts of plantations leading to low output. Dangerous animals e.g. snakes, which attack the workers hence scaring them away. Inadequate storage facilities which leads to losses due to rotting and destruction by pests. Transport problems in some areas...