Coffee Farmers Hopeful For A New Bill To Transform The Ailing Sector

Coffee farmers across the country have expressed hope that the new parliament will pass a bill that will rescue the coffee sector.

According to the farmers, coffee farming is a highly profitable activity but has been used by a few people to exploit farmers leaving them impoverished servants.

A section of farmers in Kirinyaga county has applauded Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Peter citing that he did his best to support the sector despite the politics that surrounded the sector.

The sector should be streamlined to ensure the farmer benefits from the crop and not just a few individuals. In fact, the farmers proposed that those individuals who are surrounding the coffee sector should be removed.

The farmers have also called for the lowering of pesticides as well as the provision of coffee stems to the new farmers. They have proposed 30 and 50 stems as capital for youths who want to start coffee farming.

“Coffee farming has a lot of money; from the evidence in counties we have gone, it only needs assistance from the government. The cost of pesticides should also be reduced,” David Njoka, a coffee farmer in Inoi Ward, Kirinyaga Central, said.

All of these can only be achieved if the new government has the will to assist the farmers according to Mr. David Njoka. He added that the new government should pass and implement the coffee bill.

They are now hopeful that elected new leaders will see the coffee price per kilo double. That is from 100 to 200 per kilo.

The farmers urged the incumbent government to reduce the high-interest rates charged by cooperatives as well as the overwhelming securities required to acquire the commodity funds.

They further called for the reduction of inputs such as fertilizers to 2000 shillings per 50kg bag.

Related Content: Japan Red Flags Kenyan Coffee Over Contamination Claims