The Meru community is reputed as the first Kenyan Africans to grow coffee in Kenya in early 1930s upon the implementation of the Devonshire White Paper of 1923.
Coffee growing in Meru is dictated by the climatic
conditions throughout the year which has two rainy seasons. The other factor which contributes to coffee growing in Meru County is the volcanic soils of the high latitude regions which are found in the slopes of Mount Kenya and the Nyambene ranges.
Districts noted for coffee farming in Meru County include Central Imenti, South Imenti and North Imenti among others.
In Central Imenti, areas like Katheri and Githongo grow a lot of coffee while in South Imenti, areas like lower Chule and Kithangari among others produce a lot of coffee. In North Imenti, areas like Ntakira, Nyaki, Ntima and Nkabune produce a lot of coffee. The major coffee harvesting period in Meru County starts from early May and continues throughout June and at times going up to early July.
After harvesting it is taken to coffee factories owned by farmers coffee co-operative societies which are spread out through the county.
At the factories, it is processed through various processes, dried and then packed in gunny bags before it is delivered for further processing at the Meru County Coffee Millers Cooperative Union mills (MCCMCU) situated in Meru town.
At the MCCMCU mills, the coffee beans undergo further processing. The MCCMCU officials then market the coffee on behalf of the farmers and pay them promptly when the coffee is bought through their respective co-operative societies.
