Kenyan coffee farmers are set to establish a direct trade link with the Belgium-based Java Coffee Co. following a successful negotiation by the Kenyan government. The deal, facilitated by the Deputy President will enable small-scale coffee growers to sell their produce directly to the Rotselaar-based Java Coffee Co., fostering improved income opportunities. As part of this agreement, Java Coffee Co. commits to purchasing 700 tonnes of Kenyan coffee, marking a significant milestone in the country's efforts to eliminate intermediaries from the supply chain, ultimately benefiting the farmers. Additionally, the government recently allocated 4 billion Kenyan shillings ($26.56 million) to support coffee farmers, increasing their earnings from $0.13 to $0.53 per kilogram of cherry.
Starbucks Corporation, a coffeehouse chain headquartered in Seattle, has also been in talks with the Kenyan government, backed by the American Ambassador to Kenya to explore direct coffee purchases. Starbucks, known for its extensive presence with thirty-five thousand seven hundred eleven stores across eighty countries, has expressed interest in buying Kenyan coffee. These developments represent significant progress in empowering Kenyan coffee farmers and reducing their dependency on middlemen in the coffee trade, which has perpetuated poverty among the producers.