Coffee farmers in Kenya’s Mount Kenya region are adopting new coffee varieties to counter the effects of climate change, which has disrupted traditional growing conditions and threatened production levels. Members of the Mutira Coffee Cooperative, located in the foothills of Mount Kenya, have reported declining yields and quality due to increasingly unpredictable weather patterns, alongside an uptick in pests and diseases linked to shifting environmental conditions.

Historically, farmers in this region cultivated several traditional strains of arabica coffee, benefiting from a relatively stable climate characterized by a long rainy season from April to July and a shorter rainy period between October and November. These conditions enabled reliable harvesting cycles and consistent coffee quality. However, in recent years, changes in rainfall timing and intensity have undermined these patterns, making it difficult for farmers to maintain previous output levels.

Martin Kinyua, chief executive of Mutira, highlighted the challenges the cooperative faces, noting that climate change has escalated costs associated with repairing damage caused by erratic weather and training farmers in adaptation strategies. “Climate change has really affected us in terms of the cost to repair [the damage] and train our farmers on climate adaptation,” Kinyua said.

In response, farmers are shifting towards coffee varieties better suited to the evolving climate conditions. These new strains are reportedly more resilient to drought, pests, and diseases, helping to stabilize production and secure livelihoods. The adaptation process involves both the introduction of different plant varieties and updated agricultural practices aimed at mitigating climate-related risks.

This shift among Kenyan coffee growers reflects broader concerns about the vulnerability of coffee production globally, where rising temperatures and unpredictable rainfall threaten established farming systems. For Kenya, a key coffee supplier to international markets including the United Kingdom, addressing these impacts is critical to sustaining export revenue and supporting rural communities dependent on coffee farming.

The developments at Mutira Coffee Cooperative underscore the broader challenges climate change poses to agriculture and the necessity for proactive adaptation measures among farming communities worldwide.