NAIROBI, July 29 (NNN-KBC) — Kenya has embarked on a two-month mapping excercise for all parcels of land under coffee farming in a bid to meet the European Union’s anti-deforestation rules which come into force at the end of the year.
The multi-agency mapping excersise spearheaded by the Agriculture and Food Authority (AFA) targets to ensure Kenyan coffee being exported to the EU is not as a result of clearing of forests in line with the European
Union Deforestation Regulations (EUDR) which comes to effect on Dec 30, 2025 after being extended for a year.
“Currently, approximately 30pc of the national coffee area in 16 counties out of 33, has been Geo-Mapped using satellite imagery. This represents 32,688 Ha of coffee farms out of the total coffee area of 109,384 Ha countrywide,” said Dr Bruno Linyiru, AFA Director General.
According to AFA, the regulation applies to commodities viewed by the EU as linked to deforestation namely coffee, cocoa, soy, beef, palm oil, rubber and wood.
Failure to meet the deadline means Kenya risks losing its EU coffee markets mainly, Belgium, Germany, Sweden and Finland which account for 55pc of total exports.
“Generally, the EUDR aims to ensure that a set of key products traded and consumed in the EU and globally no longer contribute to deforestation and forest degradation,” he added.
Over the past five years, Kenya exported 122,699 Metric Tonnes (MT) of clean coffee to the EU, valued at Ksh 90 billion.
AFA says smallholder farmers contribute approximately 70pc of Kenya’s total coffee production, forming the backbone of the rural economy in 33 coffee-growing counties. — NNN-KBC
