ANKARA, Turkey – Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency gave support to KALRO, Coffee Research Institute, the only institution to provide coffee bean in Kenya, to revive coffee production in the country. In Kenya, there has been a serious decrease in annual coffee beans and coffee production has declined significantly due to drought and irrigation problems. In other words, coffee production is not at the desired level in Kenya.
Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency carried out a project aimed at “Drip Irrigation System and Modern Coffee Seedling Production Greenhouses” at Kenya Coffee Research Institute.
It, thus, gave support to KALRO, Coffee Research Institute, namely the only institution to provide coffee to 31 provinces in Kenya. In this context, drip irrigation systems have been installed in a field of 8 decares at the centre of Ruiru region of the Kiambu province.
The field, where a seedbed of 8mX24m has been prepared, is reserved for coffee seedling production, and the seedlings which are to be planted in the field are resistant to drought.Besides, the water pump which provides water supply in the facility has also been repaired within the scope of the project.
Mustafa Alıcı, Türkiye’s Commercial Counsellor in Nairobi Embassy; Dr. Felister Wambugha Makini, The Vice President of KALRO, Charles Thiong’o, President of the Kiambu Parliament; Njoroge Kururia, Member of Kiambu Parliament, and Eyüp Yavuz Ümütlü, TİKA’s Coordinator in Kenya participated in the opening ceremony of the project. The locals attended the ceremony as well.
Eyüp Yavuz Ümütlü, TİKA’s Coordinator in İstanbul, gave a speech at the ceremony and said that they are very happy to have invested in KALRO Coffee Research Institute, namely the most important institution in terms of coffee production in the region.
He maintained that coffee is a strategic agricultural product and added that they hope that this project will greatly contribute to coffee production in Kenya.
Dr. Felister Wambugha Makini, The Vice President of KALRO indicated that this project, which has been realized at such a critical time, is very meaningful and important. He thanked TİKA and Türkiye for their support.
