Sustainable Coffee Farming Practices in Kenya: Joyce Wanjiku’s Story
Agricultural training and leadership development can create unexpected pathways. For Joyce Wanjiku, a coffee farmer in Kenya, this training opened doors she hadn't imagined—from the cooperative board room to her expanding farm.
Overcoming Barriers for Women Coffee Farmers in Kenya
For much of her early life, 65-year-old Joyce Wanjiku quietly grew coffee on her family’s land in Kirinyaga County, Kenya. Like many women of her generation, she faced significant barriers. Men largely controlled land ownership and coffee income, and women’s voices were rarely heard in cooperative decision-making.
Though she inherited a few trees from her parents in the 1990s, Joyce relied on traditional techniques and had little opportunity to expand her knowledge or influence. For example, Joyce would dig up her coffee fields to control weeds, inadvertently destroying the coffee feeder roots. She was also not cutting back old, unproductive coffee trees to stimulate new growth.
Joyce is part of the Rung’eto Farmers’ Cooperative Society. In 2015, the cooperative joined the AAA Academy, a two-year training program implemented by TechnoServe under the Nespresso AAA Sustainable Quality™ Program.
Key Sustainable Coffee Farming Practices Joyce Learned
Joyce was one of the few women to enroll in the training.
“At that time, we knew very little about modern coffee farming,” she recalled. “The AAA Academy changed everything.”
Joyce learned regenerative coffee practices, including pruning, composting, and shade management. One of the most important sessions she participated in focused on applying fertilizer and lime effectively to her coffee trees and on proper composting techniques.
Joyce Wanjiku displays the trophy the cooperative won for the highest price paid to farmers in 2024. (TechnoServe)
How Sustainable Practices and Inclusive Cooperatives Unlock Leadership
At the same time, the Rung’eto Cooperative Board of Management and cooperative staff received training on women’s economic empowerment in coffee cooperatives. With each session, Joyce’s knowledge and confidence grew. She gained the courage to share insights during cooperative meetings.
Encouraged by the AAA team, the cooperative created a new role for a women’s representative. Joyce stepped forward. She became the first woman elected to Rung’eto’s management, opening the door for more women to participate. Over the years, she rose through the ranks, serving as board member and vice chair. Four years ago, she was elected board chair.
Under her leadership, Rung’eto has flourished. When Joyce first joined the board, the cooperative processed 2.5 million kilograms of coffee cherry. Today, it handles more than 6 million kilograms annually.
Rung’eto has consistently paid farmers high prices for their coffee, allowing them to invest more in production and making coffee farming a viable livelihood option. In the 2023/2024 season, Rung’eto paid farmers 51% above the average price in central Kenya. That season, the cooperative won an award for paying the highest prices to farmers nationwide.
The board itself is now more inclusive, with three women and four men serving together.
“This shows that what a man can do, a woman can do too—and sometimes even better,” Joyce shared with a smile.
Joyce’s farm has also thrived. She now cultivates more than 1,500 coffee trees, making her one of the cooperative’s top producers. For her, the AAA Program provided valuable agronomy skills and has also opened the path to leadership and influence.
“Thanks to the program, my dreams have come true,” Joyce explained. “We are now fully committed to both coffee and women’s leadership, and we look forward to growing even further.”