Nairobi — A new coffee variety that could cut the cost of production by 30 per cent, hence increasing farmers' earnings has launched.

The introduction comes against the backdrop of declining production in the country.

Speaking on Wednesday during the launch held at Coffee Research Foundation, the managing director, Mr Joseph Kimemia said the new variety known as Batian matures in two years compared to three years for Ruiru 11, which is currently widely planted.

"The new variety will greatly reduce the production cost, is fast-maturing and has larger berries and has higher yields," said Mr Kimemia.

The variety, he said, has combined the good qualities found in Ruiru 11 and SL 28 which are currently used, and has been improved further to be resistant to coffee berry disease and leaf rust, the two main diseases that affect the crop in Kenya.

Mr Kimemia said it has taken over 20 years of research to produce the variety which is suitable for all coffee growing zones in the country.

Reproduction is through seed, but old trees can also be improved through grafting method.

Agriculture Secretary, Dr Wilson Songa said estates contributed 40 per cent of coffee from 53,344 hectares while small holder farmers contributed 60 per cent from 106,656 hectares of the total coffee output.

Come at better time

"The launch of this new high quality disease resistant variety could not have come at a better time as it will complement other government efforts to revive the sector by reducing the cost of production.

Agriculture Assistant minister, Mr Daniel Ndambuki said liberalisation of coffee marketing, establishment of coffee development fund, debt waiver and branding, and creation of databases were some of the initiatives by the government to revive the coffee sector.