The Mountain
Journal Crew
The entry of the government-backed
New KPCU has stabilized coffee prices with farmers getting lucrative returns.
In the past few
cooperative societies paid their growers above Sh50 per kilogramme for the
delivered product, a trend which has changed for the better following the entry
of NKPCU.
Samuel Muchai
Mungania says the revival of the organization came to rescue hundreds of growers
from the desperation, following poor prices offered by the commercial players
who had controlled the sector for 20 years.
“Am a member at
Kaubau factory affiliated to Uruku Society and last year the farmers took home
Sh73 per kilogramme, up from Sh29.10 of the previous year,” said Muchai adding that Agriculture CS Peter Munya has played great role in efforts to liberate the small scale holders.
In Mt Kenya region,
Anchege factory under New Igembe area was the best paid as the farmer took home
Sh101.00 per kilogramme up from Sh34 paid in the year 2018/2019.
Chairman at Mukuune
coffee cooperative society John Kimathi said they have registered better
payment to the farmers after they entered into a contract with NKPCU.
Kimathi said in the
past they paid less than Sh45 for kilogramme delivered as compared to above
Sh60 by the NKPCU.
“The farmers are
presently satisfied with engagement with the government appointment miller due
to the returns they have been receiving in the past one year,” said Kimathi.
In a breakdown of
the payment to the affiliate factories,
Michogomo Sh67.70,
Gakunguru Sh74.30, Nkarine Sh72, Mwitumura Sh70.35.
The payments are up
from what the farmers had received from the commercial millers in the previous
year of between Sh31 and Sh33.10.
At Muthithi
cooperative society in Murang’a, Patrick Maina appreciates the partnership as
the growers in the past one year have benefited with increased payment.
Speaking at Njora
coffee factory, Mr Maina the chairman of the society said their payments have raised
from $40, $60 and $65 in the past three crop years.
“There is no
complaint from the farmers as their sweat is paid but they hope the price could
double to match with the increased cost of living,” said Maina.
Kiambu based
Igegania Cooperative Society Chairman Paul Kariuki Mundia said the engagement
with NKPCU is cordial following the transparency involved.
In the year 2018,
Mr Mundia said farmers were paid at the rate of Sh18, and in the following year
at Sh40.
“Last year after we
delivered to NKPCU we paid Sh60 for the early crop, Majority of the societies
wishing to contract NKPCU but they have a binding agreement with commercial
millers due to loans being serviced,” said Mundia.
Chairman of NKPCU
Henry Kinyua said the operations are open to the farmers unlike in commercial
millers.
Mr Kinyua speaking
in Kabati area said last year they milled more than 750 tonnes of coffee, the
majority of the cooperative societies.
“We have the lowest
milling loss charges leading to improved payment with the growers,” said Kinyua
adding that thousands of farmers have received a cherry advance payment.
In Meru county, 34
factories have signed a milling contract with the organization.
Agriculture Cabinet
Secretary said the revival of the NKPCU is meant to give the
growers freedom to decide where they want to take their coffee for milling and
marketing.
“Entry of the
NKPCU, an initiative by President Uhuru Kenyatta, is meant to end the farmers
suffering in the hands of the commercial millers, who have been charging high
rates,” said Mr Munya as he drummed up support for Coffee Bill.
The farmers,
Munya added, have suffered due to exorbitant milling charges placed by the commercial
millers which will be regulated by the reforms.
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