Murang'a farmers beat brokers to mill, market their coffee

@Alicewangechi

Over 110,000 coffee farmers from Murang’a will process and market their produce following commissioning of their factory.

Farmers from 56 co-operative societies started construction of Murang’a Coffee Mills in 2021. The factory will aggregate and add value to their coffee while doing away with middlemen.

The mill has the capacity to process over 1.5 tonnes of coffee per hour and will serve a catchment of about 22, 500 acres of coffee.

Murang’a Coffee Cooperative Union chairperson Francis Ngone said the factory will increase farmers’ returns as it will drastically reduce their costs.

“Our coffee is known for its high quality and has made a name for itself. Most of us were educated using coffee proceeds decades ago,” Ngone said during the commissioning of the factory in Maragua area.

Ngone said the sector has been afflicted by low production occasioned by lack of motivation among farmers over the years.

Further, most factories have old and worn out machines that affect the quality of coffee they produce.

Some of the coffee cooperative societies have been selling their coffee through New KPCU while others opted for private mills. Ngone said some brokers have been holding the sector at ransom by manipulating the Nairobi Coffee Exchange.

 “The brokers would sometimes agree not to show up at the Nairobi Coffee Exchange, which affected us as farmers, but with our own mill and brokerage license, we will have the freedom to process our produce and market it ourselves,” he said.

Factory CEO Irene Kabochi said the construction of the factory is in line with the reforms being implemented in the sector.

The reforms were triggered by the government when it formed the Coffee Reforms Steering Committee, which collected stakeholders’ views on how to streamline the sector.

“Two prominent issues came out: How small scale farmers can maximise their returns and how the value chain can be made more efficient for them,” she said.

MPs Mary Waithera (Maragua), Edward Muriu (Gatanga), Joseph Munyoro (Kigumo) Chege Njuguna (Kandara), who attended the event, called on the government to make subsidised fertiliser more accessible to farmers to increase production.

Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, who was the chief guest, lauded the farmers for making a major stride and establishing the factory with the support of the county government.

This, he said, will save them from private millers who have been accused of downgrading farmers’ produce to reduce their earnings.

With the factory near their farms, Gachagua said farmers will incur reduced transport costs that will in turn increase their earnings.

“From today, you as farmers will get the right grades for your coffee and the milling losses of up to 23 per cent that were imposed on you by millers will also be reduced,” he said.

The Deputy President announced the government is making plans to waive debts incurred by coffee farmers.

Gachagua said in two weeks, he will sit with Cooperatives Cabinet Secretary Simon Chelugui and other stakeholders to discuss how to go about the process.

“Even the President will say something about the matter. He is very committed to streamlining this sector and putting money into your pockets,” the DP said.