"Failure To Empower Marketing And Production Is What Will Continue Killing Coffee Farming In Kenya, "Says Governor Kiraitu
Updated on: Aug 31, 2020
The need to empower the and production sector of coffee farming has to be put into perspective, should the dream to revive the sector in Kenya be valid.
Governor Kiraitu who spoke while he launched the new premise for Meru Coffee Millers at Chaaria Ginnery Stores, said coffee farmers are in dire need of money for their crop and not spoilage by unnecessary historic coffee politics he insinuated are the root cause of coffee economic downturn since 1980s.
He pressed there's no need for increasingly overlapping coffee reforms whose failure to implement has over the years gravely costed the farmers in the sector. His Deputy Titus Ntuchiu equally said the Miller should be managed as a business entity which will enable the firm meet its operational costs even as the government supports farmers to increase the crop's production.
County Cooperatives CECM, Maingi Mugambi termed addressing the coffee berry security, milling and production challenges as being the vital aspects in the entire coffee value chain.
Governor's sentiments were echoed by Zablon Mbaabu, Meru Coffee Millers Board of Management Chair, who said farmers opinion has long since been disregarded in all coffee formations.