The final event of the Arabika project was held at the facilities of the Coffee Research Institute in Ruiru, Kenya. The event was attended by the Chargée d'Affaires of the Embassy of Italy in Kenya, Lorenza Gambacorta, the Honourable John Mutunga, Chairman of the Agriculture and Livestock Committee of the National Assembly of Kenya, and Collins Marangu, Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development in Kenya, and Valeria Buoninfante, Director Regent of the Nairobi office of the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS).
Financed by Italy with an investment of €3 million, the Arabika project was developed in partnership with Kenyan institutions and implemented by a consortium of Italian civil society organisations (Cefa, Avsi and E4Impact), together with Kenyan counterparts such as the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organisation (Kalro) and the Coffee Research Institute (Cri).
It has since involved seven counties (Meru, Nyeri, Murang'a, Embu, Kiambu, Machakos and Bungoma), working with 21 cooperatives and reaching over 30,000 smallholder farmers. In addition to providing strategic investments in cooperative management and product traceability, the project led to the creation of seven new Kenyan coffee brands, strengthening the entire coffee supply chain, from production to market access. As part of the initiative, seven coffee laboratories were refurbished, seven modern and more efficient eco-pulpers were provided, and training courses were held for farmers, tasters and cooperative managers.
"The Arabika project is an example of the partnership between Kenya and Italy," Gambacorta said. "By combining Kenya's rich coffee tradition with Italy's expertise in processing and innovation, we have created a collaborative model that benefits local communities while ensuring global competitiveness. Italy will continue to support the coffee sector in Kenya through the modernisation of a 'Coffee training centre', which will be equipped with a new laboratory and modern machinery for roasting, grinding and tasting coffee, as part of the 'Mattei Plan', Italy's strategy of cooperation with African countries".
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