Farmers dump coffee for profitable bananas

Farmers in Kirinyaga are now turning to bananas after coffee became unprofitable.

Bananas are reportedly earning the farmers up to Sh6 billion annually, compared to Sh3.5 million from coffee.

Coffee has been the livelihood of locals for decades, but the farmers have been left with no choice but to change due to declining prices.

Bananas are now grown on a large scale in Murinduko, Kangai, Kiangwachi, Ngucui, Karumandi and Kiamugumo areas. Traders from Nairobi, Mombasa, Thika and other areas are trooping to these places to buy the crop, which they say is of high quality.

“Most people here are now actively involved in banana farming which is giving them better returns compared to their traditional crop, coffee,” said Kirinyaga Governor Joseph Ndathi Sunday.

Mr Ndathi, who spoke while on a tour of the Sh67 million Mitooini Irrigation project in Kangai village, Mwea sub-county, said his county was now leading in the production of bananas in Kenya.

“My government will assist farmers get markets for their produce, both locally and internationally,” he said.

“We will also help them add value to their produce to enable them get even better returns.

Bananas are fetching good money because of quality and also because they are on demand.”

County Executive Committee Member in charge of Agriculture Wambu Miano said his office was exploring ways to export bananas to Sri Lanka and other countries.

“We are also organising the farmers into groups that will later become a major cooperative society that will help them market the bananas,” said Mr Miano.

The farmers said unlike with coffee, where they have to wait for long, they get their money as soon as the bananas are bought.