Coffee factories in a threat of low production

Concerns over low production of coffee in Murang’a has featured , with the government accused of failing to intervene.

The growers said they continued facing challenges related to high cost of farm input and confused marketing procedures on production costs.

 They attributed the poor production to high cost of inputs, blaming the vice on the government failing to intervene.

During a meeting  at Mother’s Union Hall in Murang’a town,  they told officials of Kenya Coffee Producers Association (KCPA) that a kilogramme fetched less than Sh60, a move that has forced thousands  to shift their attention to other fast growing crops.

They said government attention had shifted to avocado trees neglecting the crucial sector of the economy.

 The KCPA chaired by Peter Gikonyo has been touring coffee growing areas collecting information on how best to improve the sector and empowering small scale growers.

 The cooperative societies chairmen and other officials in charge of 144 factories, disclosed that majority of the processing facilities were at the verge of closing down due to poor production.

 They observed that due to the high cost of farm input very few farmers have managed to produce 10 kilogramme per tree.

The officials were told there were trees producing less than a kilogramme of cherries per year.

Gikonyo said the association was working to improve the production through seeking for interventions from the stakeholders.

He said there was a need for the farmers to increase their production to at least 1,000 kilogrammes per member to save the sector.

“ Processing factories receiving less that 250,000 kilogrammes annually were under threat of closing down,” he said.

 Gikonyo said the association was a link between the growers and the market, a move that will help increase production.

“The officials are on a countrywide tour holding consultation with farmers for a better tomorrow,” said Gikonyo. Gikonyo is also chairman of Gaturi Farmers Cooperative Society in Kiharu, Murang’a.  

Some of the factories in the county closed following the dwindling production of cherries as farmers shifted to horticulture.

Our news lines are

ceo@themountainjournal.co.ke

info@themountainjournal.co.ke