On October 10, President William Ruto formally introduced cocoa as a scheduled cash crop during the Mazingira Day celebrations at Elgon Downs in Endebess, Trans Nzoia County. This move aims to broaden Kenya's agricultural base and encourage value-addition. The President urged farmers in identified zones to prepare for cocoa cultivation and announced that the government will start distributing cocoa seedlings immediately.
The Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organisation (KALRO) has already produced seedlings and will partner with the Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service (KEPHIS) to ensure a steady supply for interested growers. This partnership is crucial in supporting farmers who are interested in cocoa farming. The government has mapped roughly 5.4 million hectares across agro-ecological zones 3 and 4, primarily in parts of the Rift Valley and Western Kenya, as potentially suitable for cocoa farming.
Cocoa was classified as a scheduled crop under the Crops Act, 2013, in November 2024. This classification is expected to boost household earnings and complement the nation's reforestation agenda, as cocoa is a tree and can increase tree cover. President Ruto highlighted the potential of cocoa to diversify farm incomes and create a homegrown supply chain, reducing Kenya's reliance on imported cocoa beans.
Historically, Kenya has imported cocoa beans from Uganda and Tanzania for local processing and export of value-added products. Expanding domestic production could create a homegrown supply chain, providing economic benefits to local farmers and communities. The mapped acreage reflects land that could support cocoa, not land already under cultivation, and successful adoption will depend on local conditions, seedling availability, and agricultural support services.
The government's plan to distribute cocoa seedlings across 5.4 million hectares of suitable land is a significant step towards achieving its goal of increasing cocoa production. The President's announcement is expected to have a positive impact on the agricultural sector, particularly in regions with suitable climate and soil conditions for cocoa farming.
Farmers in the identified zones are being encouraged to prepare for cocoa cultivation, and the government is committed to providing the necessary support services. The introduction of cocoa as a scheduled cash crop is expected to contribute to Kenya's economic growth and development, particularly in rural areas where agriculture is a significant source of livelihood.
The successful implementation of this initiative will depend on various factors, including the availability of seedlings, agricultural support services, and local conditions. However, with the government's commitment to supporting farmers and the potential for cocoa to diversify farm incomes, this initiative has the potential to make a positive impact on Kenya's agricultural sector and economy.
Key points
- The Kenyan government has identified 5.4 million hectares of land suitable for cocoa farming, primarily in the Rift Valley and Western Kenya.
- Cocoa was classified as a scheduled crop under the Crops Act, 2013, in November 2024, to broaden Kenya's agricultural base and encourage value-addition.
- The government will distribute cocoa seedlings to farmers in identified zones, with the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organisation (KALRO) and Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service (KEPHIS) partnering to ensure a steady supply.
