The Mountain Journal
editor@themountainjournal.co.ke
Youthful coffee leaders have lauded the passage of Coffee Bill 2023 outlining the move as a major milestone in the coffee sector, following the policy to revive the defunct Coffee Board of Kenya (CBK) and the Coffee Research Institute (CRI).
The farmers leaders led by Godffrey Kanyiri and Esbon Mwangi from Kahuhia and New Kiriti Cooperative Societies in Kiharu and Mathioya constituencies respectively said the institutions were scrapped politically despite their importance in the coffee industry.
They spoke at Wanjengi Coffee Factory in Kahuro when Kahuro Deputy County Commissioner Ms Esther Mwaura handed Wanjengi Coffee Factory youth with sports gear donated by Alliance Berries Limited Managing Director Peter Githinji.
They lauded the Kirinyaga Senator Kamau Murango for the motion that will awaken the coffee sector through the farmers facilitating the operations through research and marketing.
“Absence of the critical departments was felt as the coffee directorate was managed by AFA while research was underfunded through Kalro,” said Kanyiri the chairman at Kahuhia Farmers Cooperative Society.
Kanyiri observed that in this month’s coffee summit in Ethiopia, Kenya, despite being a coffee producer, was not well represented like other African countries that included Uganda, adding that Laikipia Governor Joshua Irungu was the only governor who attended.
“The visitors appreciated the taste of the Kenyan coffee, as they claimed to be buying the produce from Brazil. There is a need for the Kenyan government to move at a speed and get the market,” said Kanyiri.
Mwangi asked the county governments to provide the farmers with quality seedlings for planting in efforts to increase coffee production.
“ Counties in Rift Valley are leading in distribution of seedlings, the same should be extended to Mt Kenya region through the county governments,” said Mwangi.
Ms Mwaura said engaging the youth in coffee production and sports will reduce the criminal activities in the villages.
“ The parents should allocate coffee trees to their children to empower them economically and socially,” said the DCC.
