Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Peter Munya revealed a Sh2.7 billion loan initiative targeting coffee farmers, offering three percent interest rates to be disbursed through cooperative societies.
The program requires farmers to weigh their coffee harvests as collateral, with repayment tied to sales through registered cooperatives. Munya emphasized that loans remain accessible regardless of whether farmers sell through the New Kenya Planters Cooperative Union (New KPCU) or alternative channels.
Despite the scheme's availability, Tharaka Nithi County saw minimal uptake, with only Sh280,300 distributed to 14 farmers. In contrast, Meru, Kirinyaga, and Murang'a counties reported higher participation, according to Munya's remarks during a farmer sensitization session in Maara Sub County.
Separately, the government announced subsidized fertilizer programs, covering 40% of costs through the National Cereals and Produce Board. Farmers pay 60% of fertilizer prices, with the president allocating Sh1 billion to support procurement. Over 80,000 farmers nationwide have registered for the initiative, with 59,000 receiving benefits across 18 counties.
In Tharaka Nithi, 5,753 farmers registered for fertilizers, and 1,049 received aid, totaling Sh3.4 million in county disbursements. Munya urged farmers to leverage both loan and fertilizer programs to enhance coffee production, noting the New KPCU's transition to a state corporation under the Ministry of Agriculture.
