This archive report was first published on 4 November 2019.
Published on November 4, 2019, the Kenya Gazette has invited public comments on the licencing of Iria-ini Co-operative alongside Primcafe Agency.
The Iria-ini Coffee Farmers Cooperative Society in Nyeri has taken a bold step by applying for a licence to directly export its coffee to the international market, bypassing middlemen.
This move makes the society the first in the Mt Kenya region to apply for such a licence, and it is expected to increase the income of local coffee farmers.
According to the Agriculture Food Authority (AFA), parties with objections on the proposed licencing of both entities have 14 days to lodge their protests.
Mr Antony Mureithi, the AFA Interim Director, has urged those with objections to provide their names and contacts, and explain why they are opposed to the granting of the licences.
He emphasized that all dealers in coffee, tea, and nuts should be licensed by the regulator, and that the Authority has been encouraging farmers to venture into diversification to enable them get better returns from their produce.
