🏛️ The Coffee Directorate: Apex Regulatory Body
The Coffee Directorate is a specialized agency operating under a larger government authority, giving it the mandate to oversee the entire coffee value chain:
- Parent Body: The Coffee Directorate falls under the Agriculture and Food Authority (AFA). AFA is the main state corporation responsible for regulating, developing, and promoting scheduled crops in Kenya, as mandated by the Agriculture and Food Authority Act of 2013.
- Core Mandate: The Directorate’s specific mission is to develop, promote, and regulate the coffee industry in Kenya, ensuring quality, market access, and sustainable growth.
Key Roles in Coffee Policy and Resource Management
The Directorate’s functions encompass political, policy, and resource management aspects of the sector: - Regulation and Licensing:
- It issues licenses and certificates for all industry players, including coffee millers, independent cupping laboratories, buyers, and warehousemen.
- It enforces national regulations, industry codes of practice, and quality standards.
- Market and Promotion:
- It conducts local and international market intelligence and promotional activities.
- It manages and promotes the Kenya Coffee Mark of Origin , a crucial branding tool to assure quality and origin globally.
- Policy and Development:
- It is responsible for developing and promoting policies and strategies aimed at increasing production and competitiveness, such as initiatives to double coffee production or ensure compliance with international regulations (like the European Union Deforestation Regulation – EUDR).
- Data and Technical Services:
- It collects, collates, and maintains a comprehensive database on the coffee industry, which informs government decisions and planning.
- It provides technical advisory services and supports capacity building for county governments and farmers.
🌐 Policy Context: The Role of Government Reform
Recent efforts in coffee policy have focused on reforms to address long-standing challenges like delayed payments and low farmer earnings. These reforms aim to: - Streamline the Value Chain: Reduce bureaucracy and eliminate conflicts of interest among different service providers.
- Improve Transparency: Enhance efficiency in the clearing and settlement of coffee proceeds to ensure farmers receive timely payments.
- Boost Production: Implement strategies, often in collaboration with County Governments and research institutions, to distribute high-yielding, disease-resistant seedlings to increase overall output.
In summary, while the overall agricultural policy framework is set by the Ministry and AFA, the Coffee Directorate is the dedicated, operational government body that spearheads the day-to-day policy implementation and management of coffee resources in Kenya.
Article by :
Barista Mtaani and Kenya Coffee School.