Government Formally Classifies Cocoa As Scheduled Cash Crop In Agricultural Diversification Drive

President William Ruto has officially launched cocoa as a scheduled cash crop in Kenya, urging farmers in mapped regions to embrace cultivation to boost household incomes while advancing the nation’s environmental conservation goals.

Speaking during the rollout ceremony in Kitale, the Head of State highlighted cocoa’s potential for value addition and economic transformation, noting that the crop offers extensive commercial opportunities beyond raw bean exports.

“Start preparing yourselves. From cocoa, we can produce beverage mixes, food items, chocolate, and many other products,” President Ruto stated. “For that reason, I urge Kenyans in areas mapped out for cocoa cultivation to take up farming it, because it is also a tree. As we reforest our country, we can simultaneously boost our incomes.”

The government has immediately initiated the distribution of cocoa seedlings to farmers, leveraging local agricultural research institutions to ensure a steady supply of certified planting materials. The Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organisation (KALRO) and the Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service (KEPHIS) have partnered to lead the propagation and quality control of high-yielding seedlings tailored for target zones.

By classifying cocoa as a scheduled cash crop, the government aims to structure its commercialization, support local processing industries, and integrate the crop into Kenya’s broader economic and climate resilience strategies.

“I want us to collaborate in this way. Therefore, today here in Kitale, we are launching cocoa as a scheduled cash crop, and we are distributing seedlings immediately,” the President affirmed. “Our teams at KALRO have conducted research and already have seedlings available, and we will now form a partnership between KEPHIS and KALRO to produce a sufficient supply of cocoa seedlings for everyone.”

The initiative marks a strategic effort to diversify Kenya’s cash crop portfolio, providing farmers with a lucrative alternative alongside traditional mainstays like tea and coffee.