The cabinet Secretary for cooperatives and Micro small and medium Enterprises(MSMEs) Simon Chelugui has affirmed the government’s commitment to revitalize the coffee sector through the ongoing raft of reforms.
Speaking during the Coffee Cherry Revolving Fund(CCARF) sensitization and distribution programme at Chuka picnic grounds in Tharaka Nithi County the CS said that the government will set a guaranteed minimum price for minimum gain for small-scale coffee farmers.
He expressed that the guaranteed minimum returns for farmers will be sh80 per kilo to be earned within five days of submitting the coffee to factories.
“The coffee you take to the factory earns you a voucher to earn sh80 per kilo within 5 days,” he said
Chelugui pointed out that farmers will access the Coffee Cherry Advance Revolving fund which will provide an affordable accessible advance fund to farmers through the New Kenya Planters Co-operative Union. (KPCU).
He said that the reforms will seek to ensure that coffee Co-operatives and society workers will earn a minimum of Sh 5 per every kilo reaching the factory.
The CS assured that the government will incur any losses below sh80 at the Nairobi coffee exchange adding extra profits will be enjoyed as a bonus by the farmers.
He encouraged farmers to take the funds to boost coffee production in the region.
Speaking during the same event the county governor Muthomi Njuki said that farmers will enjoy access to the cherry advance revolving fund through the Tharaka Nithi coffee mill as well as New KPCU.
He expressed that the fund is available to all coffee farmers supplying their cherry to various millers.
Njuki urged farmers to produce coffee in large quantities to earn bonuses after production.
He assured that the minimum guarantee returns will help to avoid debts and ensure pending ones are addressed.
In partnership with the national government, the governor noted that they will support factories with better pulping modern machines to boost coffee productivity and quality.
In attendance also was Principal Secretary, State Department of Cooperatives Patrick Kilemi, Chuka MP Patrick Munene, and Maara MP Kareke Mbiuki among other leaders.
By Sharon Gitau
