This archive report was first published on 1 July 2020.
On July 1, 2020, Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Peter Munya addressed chairmen of 23 coffee societies in Kiambu County, assuring them that the government was working to revive the coffee industry.
Munya stated that the government was mapping out all coffee societies affiliated to the new Kenya Coffee Planters Cooperative Union to give them a new lease of life.
He regretted that poor management and marketing had led to many farmers not earning their rightful income from coffee sales, with some even uprooting the crop to engage in real estate.
"As a result, many farmers gave up on the crop. I take this opportunity to assure the farmers that the government is putting incentives into coffee farming, and the farmers will choose how to sell their coffee," Munya told the meeting.
The government's efforts to revive the coffee industry are part of the recommendations made by the coffee taskforce appointed by President Uhuru Kenyatta to tackle challenges like marketing, production, and quality of coffee.
According to Munya, the new Kenya Coffee Planters Cooperative Union had reopened milling plants in Machakos, Magana, and Dandora areas to offer coffee farmers value for their crop.
Kiambu Governor James Nyoro pleaded with Munya to intervene and have the Sh.440 million owed to coffee farmers written off by the government.
By Lydia Shiloya
