President William Ruto has launched the distribution of cocoa seedlings in Kitale, Trans Nzoia County, as the government moves to promote the crop as a source of income for farmers.
Speaking during Mazingira Day celebrations at Elgon Downs in Endebess on Saturday, October 10, Ruto said the government would work with agricultural agencies to make seedlings available to farmers in areas identified as suitable for cocoa growing.
The President said the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organisation (KALRO) had already conducted research on the crop and prepared seedlings for planting.
“Today, here in Kitale, we are launching cocoa as a scheduled cash crop, and we are going to be distributing seedlings,” Ruto said.
He added that the government would work with KALRO and the Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service (KEPHIS) to increase seedling production and meet farmers’ needs.
The cost of one seedling was put at KSh200. Ruto said the government would consider subsidies if the price became a barrier to farmers interested in growing the crop.
He urged farmers in suitable areas to consider cocoa as an additional farming activity, saying it could provide another source of income while supporting environmental conservation.
The President also pointed to opportunities for processing cocoa into finished products, including chocolate and beverage mixes such as Bournvita and Milo.
The move follows a government decision in November 2024 to classify cocoa, mung beans, jute and cocoyam as scheduled crops under its agricultural diversification plans.
The classification provides a framework for regulating and promoting the production, marketing and trade of the crops.
Kenya’s cocoa industry remains small compared with major producers such as Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana. However, the country has been exploring opportunities to expand production and benefit from the crop’s potential in local processing and export markets.
For farmers, the success of the new initiative will depend on access to affordable seedlings, suitable growing conditions and reliable markets for their harvests.