Iyego farmers shines in packaging of coffee

The Mountain Journal

 A coffee society in Murang’a has advanced its fortunes with upgrading its status through acquisition of eco pulping, roasting and packaging systems.

 Iyego society in Kangema constituency has acquired state of art equipment through partnership with Saving Water Initiative Tropical Farm Management.

 Chairman of the society Njuguna Karatu said the Sh8 million equipment has helped the organization to  start packing their Iyego Coffee Premium trading at Sh1,000 per kilogramme.

A gramm of coffee is trading at a shilling.

 The eco pulping system uses little water in the processing of coffee unlike the conventional one used by many of the societies, said Njuguna when leaders led by Kangema MP Peter Kihungi and Deputy Governor Stephen Munania toured.

The MP said the upgrading of the factory status should be a lesson to others interested in helping the farmers access better returns.

“ I challenge the international dealers running  coffee shops in Kenya like Dorman to buy locally roasted coffee instead of importing. In Kenya  there is enough commodity  for consumption and export,” said Kihungi.

 Commissioning the project, the deputy Governor said  the government is working on a programme that will help toward increasing coffee production.

Munania said the county government has rolled out a programme jointly with Murang’a Farmers Cooperative Union  to involve the youth in coffee farming.

“ Using the youth  will help in increasing production of the commodity thus more returns  from the local and the international market,” said  the deputy governor accompanied by County Trade and Industrialisation Executive Kimani Mugo.

 Iyego society with 12 factories is among the few societies in Murang'a that in 1990's survived the liberation wave that led to split.

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