President William Ruto has launched cocoa as a scheduled cash crop in Kenya, urging farmers in areas identified as suitable for cultivation to prepare to grow the crop as the government begins distributing seedlings.
Ruto made the announcement on Saturday, October 10, during the national Mazingira Day celebrations at Elgon Downs in Endebess, Trans Nzoia County.
The president said cocoa presented an opportunity for farmers to diversify their agricultural activities, increase household incomes and contribute to environmental conservation.
“Start preparing yourselves. From cocoa, we can produce beverage mixes, food items, chocolate, and many other products,” he said, encouraging farmers in mapped areas to embrace cultivation.
The launch follows the government’s decision in November 2024 to formally classify cocoa as a scheduled crop under the Crops Act, 2013, as part of efforts to expand Kenya’s agricultural production and value addition.
Which areas in Kenya are suitable for cocoa farming?
The government has mapped approximately 5.4 million hectares across agroecological zones 3 and 4 as potentially suitable for cocoa cultivation.
Parts of the Rift Valley and Western Kenya are among the areas identified, offering farmers in suitable locations an opportunity to diversify into a crop that can be processed into a range of consumer products.
Ruto urged residents in the mapped areas to take up cocoa farming, noting that the crop is a tree and could complement the government’s reforestation campaign.
“As we reforest our country, we can simultaneously boost our incomes,” he said.
The mapped acreage represents land identified as potentially suitable for growing cocoa, rather than land already under production. Successful cultivation will depend on local conditions, access to suitable seedlings and appropriate agricultural support.
How will the government support cocoa farmers?
Ruto announced that the government would begin distributing cocoa seedlings immediately, adding that the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organisation (KALRO) had already conducted research and prepared seedlings for planting.
He said KALRO would work with the Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service (KEPHIS) to ensure a sufficient supply of seedlings for farmers interested in taking up the crop.
“Today here in Kitale, we are launching cocoa as a scheduled cash crop, and we are distributing seedlings immediately,” the President said.
The proposed collaboration between the two institutions is expected to support the production and supply of planting materials as the government rolls out the initiative.
How could cocoa farming benefit Kenya?
Kenya has traditionally imported cocoa beans from neighbouring Uganda and Tanzania, with local businesses processing the raw materials to add value before exporting products to other markets.
Expanding local production could help develop a domestic supply chain, create opportunities for farmers and processors, and support the manufacture of cocoa-based products such as chocolate, food items and beverage mixes.
The initiative also aligns with the government’s push to increase tree cover and restore the environment, although the benefits will depend on farmers adopting the crop and establishing commercially viable production.
