Coffee farmers reject Uhuru task force

What you need to know:

  • Representatives of farmers from coffee growing zones in the country on Monday argued that a task force would not solve their problems as this was not the first time such action was being taken.
  • In their list of demands, the farmers also said that they want the pricing of the crop raised to minimum of Sh200 per kilogram of cherry coffee delivered. Currently the pricing averages between Sh30 and Sh80.

A section of farmers have rejected a directive by President Uhuru Kenyatta to form a task force to look into the ongoing crisis in the coffee sector.

Representatives of farmers from coffee growing zones in the country on Monday argued that a task force would not solve their problems as this was not the first time such action was being taken.

They said that task forces like the one being pushed by the President usually end up being part of the cartels of middlemen who steal from farmers.

On Saturday, President Kenyatta issued an order for a committee to be formulated to probe the problems facing coffee farmers during a closed door meeting with central Kenya leaders in Nyeri.

Some of the issues that were raised about the sector are coffee theft and pricing.

“We want the president to give a directive that will see to it that coffee farmers benefit,” said Mr Harrison Munyi, the national chair of the National small and Medium Coffee Growers Association.

In their list of demands, the farmers also said that they want the pricing of the crop raised to minimum of Sh200 per kilogram of cherry coffee delivered. Currently the pricing averages between Sh30 and Sh80.

According to the farmers, they only get one percent of returns on coffee sale. Neighbouring Uganda gets up to 80 per cent on the sale of the crop.

They also want the procedure for the sale of the crop revised so that the number of middlemen is reduced. As of now coffee goes from the farmer, to the factory, then the miller, through to the marketer before reaching the buyer.

“These middlemen are the cartels who are reaping from farmers’ hard work,” said Mr Munyi, adding that county governments should also not be involved.

In their proposal, the government will choose a buyer of coffee under one national pool. The deals according to the farmers will be done on a payment-on-delivery basis or through an assurance of an overall payment of not less than Sh200 per kilogramme.
The farmers have also asked for a ban on the central auction system of the crop.