Kandara coffee
growers support reform bill
By The Mountain
Journal Team in Kandara
Kandara coffee farmers have endorsed the
coffee bill recounting their frustration in payment despite hard work.
In a meeting convened by Agriculture and
Livestock Cabinet Secretary Peter Munya, the farmers said they were ready to
support the bill following the challenges they have gone through after the
sector went under in 1989.
Speaking at Kandara grounds, the farmers
pleaded with the CS to come to their rescue as some of their coffee factories
were at the threat of being auctioned due to debts.
Munya said the bill
backed by President Uhuru Kenyatta is among the many initiatives that will be
brought for the interest of coffee farmers.
“ The sector has
money but there are people along the value chain who have been looting the
farmers’ proceeds. The bill will ensure there is transparency in all the
undertaking,” said the CS.
The bill has a clause that the professional committee members will retire after servicing in
two terms of three years each.
“ There are people
who have served the societies for ages now its their time to exit. The milling
decision will not be a board room affair as the farmers will be involved,” said
Munya.
Led by Ithiru MCA Kibe wa Sarry, the farmers
said the government should introduce a Guaranteed Minimum Return (GMR) that
would cushion growers when the market fluctuates downwards.
“ Bwana CS the
farmers are suffering due to the dues and require a waiver to
enable the recovery of the sub
sector,” said the MCA.
Ngararia MCA Simon Wamwea on his part
recounted that majority of the coffee
factories were on the verge of closing down
following huge debts the farmers are unable to service.
“Kaimande and Ngararia coffee factories have a debt of
Sh8.6 million. Several other factories
have lost their land as the government
appointed liquidators want to recover
money to pay the debts,” said Wamwea.
The defunct Kandara cooperative society was
among the largest producers of coffee in Murang’a before it split.
During the meeting Senator Irungu Kang’ata, MP Sabina Chege
and Alice Wahome supported the introduction
of the coffee reforms.
Present was
Wakili Mbiyu Kamau who in the past two
months had been educating the locals on the need to increase coffee production.
Kamau has also been educating the locals on the need to support the BBI.
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