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...

  In Kenya coffee is grown in at least seven of the eight provinces. The only region where coffee is not grown is the northeastern province because it is too dry for the crop. In Kenya, the main type of coffee grown is Arabika.small amount of Robusta coffee is grown in western Kenya but the output is insignificant. The following are problems facing coffee farming in Kenya Poor soils ; in many areas where coffee is grown, the soil is exhausted and smallholders can not afford the fertilizers required to reinstate the soil back to the required fertility level. Coffee uses a lot of nutrients which need to be replenished regularly Adverse weather condition ; there are times when rainfall is unreliable and drought condition set in causing berries to ripen prematurely and falling off hence causing loss to farmers Shortage of capital ; farmers usually have a problem of capital to improve their farms and even improve farm infrastructure. Coffee farming requires heavy capital investment in t...