DP William Ruto wants governors to set up coffee processing factories
Deputy President William Ruto (left) chats with Nyeri Senator Ephraim Maina (centre) and Mathira MP Rigathi Gachagua during a church service at PCEA Ritiri in Nyeri County on August 5, 2018. PHOTO | DPPS
What you need to know:
- The DP urged governors to support value addition of coffee at the counties noting that the government will spend Sh1 billion in supplying farmers with subsidized farm inputs to encourage farming.
- Mr Ruto said the ban on export of raw crops is in line with one of the pillars in the government’s Big Four agenda, manufacturing.
Deputy President William Ruto wants governors to set up coffee processing factories to stop the export of raw beans amid opposition from a section of leaders and farmers.
Mr Ruto supported Gatundu South MP Moses Kuria’s amendment bill to the Crop Act that mandates each county to form a coffee parastatal to roast, mill, pack and brand the products if millers and marketers do not.
“We want coffee, tea and horticulture to be processed before export. The habit of trading our produce as raw materials must stop. We will create jobs for our youth and increase farmers’ earnings,” he said.
The DP urged governors to support value addition of coffee at the counties noting that the government will spend Sh1 billion in supplying farmers with subsidized farm inputs to encourage farming.
REVIVE COFFEE INDUSTRY
The proposed bill is the second attempt to revive the coffee industry after President Kenyatta formed a task force chaired by Prof Joseph Kieyah in 2016 whose recommendations are yet to be implemented.
Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru is among the leaders who have opposed Mr Kuria’s proposal saying that it was not a solution to the woes facing coffee.
Mr Ruto said the ban on export of raw crops is in line with one of the pillars in the government’s Big Four agenda, manufacturing.
“We will not allow sale of unprocessed coffee because farmers get very little profit while others process the same coffee and earn huge amounts of money,” he said.
FIGHT TOOTH AND NAIL
Mr Kuria said he will fight tooth and nail to ensure that cartels exploiting farmers are thrown out of business. The lawmaker maintained that he will not be bribed or stopped from pushing for the approval of the bill that will revive the sector.
“I cannot be bribed and I will not be cowed until I push them (cartels) to the edge. America is selling their coffee at Sh4,800 per kilo while farmers are receiving Sh20 for the same unit,” he noted.
According to the lawmaker, the export of raw coffee leads to farmers not getting maximum benefits from their produce.
Though National Assembly Speaker Justin Muturi has given the Gatundu South MP the green light on the amendments, Ms Waiguru cautioned Parliament against passing it into law without consulting stakeholders.
“Before passing the bill to law, I would urge the National Assembly to consult with the farmers who are in a better position to explain the problems they endure,” she said.
The Kirinyaga governor further noted that there should be a window for negotiation before the proposed amendments are passed into law in order to fast track ways to double the farmers’ prices.
