**In Kenya’s Rift Valley, coffee farmers like Simon Macharia are grappling with climate change, impacting their ability to thrive in an industry already burdened by economic disparities.**
### Kenya's Coffee Culture Faces Climate Crisis
### Kenya's Coffee Culture Faces Climate Crisis
**Farmers struggle to sustain the prized commodity amid changing weather patterns and economic challenges.**
In the picturesque highlands of Komothai, situated in Kenya's Rift Valley, skilled coffee growers, including Simon Macharia, have been cultivating coffee for generations. As they harvest vibrant coffee cherries from their small farms, a centuries-old tradition is threatened by modern challenges.
Once processed at local plants where they’re meticulously sorted and cleaned, these cherries yield what is known as "black gold" – the highly sought-after Kenya AA coffee beans, cherished globally for their rich flavor profiles. Coffee farming, introduced to the region by colonial settlers in the late 19th century, relies heavily on labor-intensive practices such as pruning, weeding, and careful harvesting. Macharia emphasizes the commitment required: "From the moment the coffee starts to bloom until harvest time, it's a full-time job."
Despite the global coffee market's lucrative pricing—often $4 for a single cup in Europe—the earnings for Kenyan farmers remain starkly low. Many workers, like Edita Mwangi, struggle to make ends meet on wages as low as $1.40 a day, while juggling family responsibilities. "They don't know the poverty we suffer," she expresses, highlighting the struggle faced by many in the community.
Yet, the landscape is shifting. Farmers now find their livelihoods under siege due to climate change, which is disrupting delicate weather patterns crucial for coffee growth. John Murigi, chairman of the Komothai Coffee Society, warns that extreme temperatures and irregular rainfall have led to lower coffee production and a surge in crop diseases, forcing farmers to adopt harmful agricultural chemicals.
The local water supply is also dwindling as rising temperatures lead to diminished river levels. Farmers must now depend more on these water sources, which they argue is not the sole reason for the depletion.
With the world’s climate changing and traditional coffee-growing regions facing relentless heatwaves and droughts, the implications for future coffee production are dire. Studies show that an overwhelming 93% of Kenyan coffee farmers are feeling the adverse effects of climate change.
In response, some Kenyan farmers are trying to adapt by integrating shading trees on their farms, hoping this will mitigate the impacts of harsh weather. However, there’s a growing sense of skepticism about the industry's sustainability. "As things stand, I don't think any parent wants their child to farm coffee here," Macharia concludes sadly, underscoring the urgency of addressing the interconnected climate and economic dilemmas faced by coffee producers in Kenya.
Once processed at local plants where they’re meticulously sorted and cleaned, these cherries yield what is known as "black gold" – the highly sought-after Kenya AA coffee beans, cherished globally for their rich flavor profiles. Coffee farming, introduced to the region by colonial settlers in the late 19th century, relies heavily on labor-intensive practices such as pruning, weeding, and careful harvesting. Macharia emphasizes the commitment required: "From the moment the coffee starts to bloom until harvest time, it's a full-time job."
Despite the global coffee market's lucrative pricing—often $4 for a single cup in Europe—the earnings for Kenyan farmers remain starkly low. Many workers, like Edita Mwangi, struggle to make ends meet on wages as low as $1.40 a day, while juggling family responsibilities. "They don't know the poverty we suffer," she expresses, highlighting the struggle faced by many in the community.
Yet, the landscape is shifting. Farmers now find their livelihoods under siege due to climate change, which is disrupting delicate weather patterns crucial for coffee growth. John Murigi, chairman of the Komothai Coffee Society, warns that extreme temperatures and irregular rainfall have led to lower coffee production and a surge in crop diseases, forcing farmers to adopt harmful agricultural chemicals.
The local water supply is also dwindling as rising temperatures lead to diminished river levels. Farmers must now depend more on these water sources, which they argue is not the sole reason for the depletion.
With the world’s climate changing and traditional coffee-growing regions facing relentless heatwaves and droughts, the implications for future coffee production are dire. Studies show that an overwhelming 93% of Kenyan coffee farmers are feeling the adverse effects of climate change.
In response, some Kenyan farmers are trying to adapt by integrating shading trees on their farms, hoping this will mitigate the impacts of harsh weather. However, there’s a growing sense of skepticism about the industry's sustainability. "As things stand, I don't think any parent wants their child to farm coffee here," Macharia concludes sadly, underscoring the urgency of addressing the interconnected climate and economic dilemmas faced by coffee producers in Kenya.
