Coffee farmers in Kirinyaga County got a boost in the processing of their produce after the county government provided a berries roasting machine.
Mwirua Farmers’ Cooperative Society, Kerugoya, with a membership of over 14,000 received a coffee roaster, a grinder and a packaging machines that will assist farmers in preparation of their produce for the market.
The cooperative society serves both Kirinyaga Central and Ndia Constituencies.
While receiving the equipment at society house on Friday, the society’s Chairman, Geoffrey Kinyua said that the equipment will enable them to add value to coffee hence fetching more money for the farmers.
“This is a great boost to the farmers. Our coffee will now fetch better prices in the market,” Kinyua said.
He added that they will target local consumption of their coffee by gradually introducing the value added coffee to supermarkets and other outlets in and outside the county
George Muthii Karimi, the society’s manager said the society is in process of getting requisite licenses and authorizations from the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) as well as barcoding for their product.
“We are getting authorizations from entities such as the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) so that we proceed with the value addition process,” he said
The society started roasting its coffee in December 2020 and has farmers drawn from nine coffee factories namely; Kariani, Mitondo, Getuya, Gathabi, Kiaragana, Kiambwe, Rwamuthambi, Riakiania and Ihara.
The society is keen in ensuring that one of the Big Four Agenda ‘Food security” in the country is achieved as well as improving the farmers’ income.
By Mutai Kipngetich
