Murang’a farmers reject new coffee regulations
By KNA, September 4, 2023Some coffee farmers in Murang’a County want the government to suspend of coffee regulations 2019.
During a special general meeting on Friday, farmers allied to Gatagua Coffee Farmers’ Cooperative Society in Kahuro Sub-County, claimed the regulations denied them a chance to explore opportunities for better returns.
Coffee regulations 2019 requires coffee cooperative societies to channel their produce through 11 licensed union brokerage firms or through the New Kenya Planters Cooperative Union (NKPCU).
The farmers argued that the government should not force them to sell their coffee to unions, which they claim, are poorly managed and marred by leadership wrangles.
The more than 900 farmers of Gatagua Cooperative Society resolved to continue delivering their produce to their contracted millers. Chairman of the Gatagua society, Harrison Chege said after sourcing for a miller in 2019, their production has moved up from about 56,000 kilos to more than 500,000 kilos annually.
“The management of Gatagua society will find ways to have the already collected 102,000 kilos of coffee transported to our preferred miller,” he said.
Gatagua is among cooperatives that have been selling 75 per cent of the produce to Colombian market, with farmers being paid Sh80 per kilo last year, down from Sh110 per kilo in the previous year.