A Sh85million coffee factory has roared into operation in Baringo courtesy of the county government and Korean Best Friends.
Baringo Cha Coffee factory was commissioned on a 2.5acre Tugen hills farm at Katimok forest in Ossen-Kabartonjo ward, Baringo North subcounty, on Friday.
“We have been having a series of bilateral talks with the Korean government pertaining to establishment of the coffee mill since 2013,” Governor Stanley Kiptis said.
Kiptis said his administration handed Sh15 million towards installation of the milling plant. Korean investor Cha Bo-Yong gave Sh70 million, totalling Sh85 million.
“The Korean investor chose Baringo coffee because of its organic and natural sweet test; could be as a result of temperatures and favourable soil” he said.
There was a tussle earlier pertaining to the location of the mill. Some proposed Baringo North while others wanted it taken to Eldama-Ravine subcounty.
The county boss said the factory will help ease the farmers' cost of transportation of their produce to Kiambu, Uasin-Gishu and Kericho counties.
Laikipia Governor Nderitu Muriithi, Wildlife Principal Secretary Prof Fred Segor and the head of Coffee Directorate of Kenya Isabella Nkonge attended the event.
Nkonge handed the operation license to the mill, saying it has been assessed and fully certified. “It is one among the best quality coffee mills we have in Kenya,” she said.
She advised the county coffee steering committee to set up a comprehensive strategic plan to enhance and sustain coffee production and milling.
“Our core target is to ensure quality and see to it that farmers work and get money in their pockets,” Nkonge said.
Governor Kiptis noted the mill grinds up to 1.2 metric tones of coffee per hour.
“Currently, Baringo farmers produce an average of 100 tones of coffee beans annually which can be ground by the mill in a record two weeks then it gets finished,” he said.
He appealed to coffee farmers from across the country to consider bringing their coffee for milling, saying they will offer the best market prices.
Kiptis further promised to donate some 200,000 coffee seedlings and fertiliser to farmers so as to increase productivity.
The Korean investor pledged to purchase some 100 pulping machines.
Governor Kiptis appealed to President Uhuru Kenyatta to assist Baringo farmers by waiving Sh110 million loans owed to the Agricultural Finance Corporation.
“This has been a dominant challenge to our coffee farmers since some of us were born to date,” he said.
Laikipia Governor Nderitu lauded the investor and the county government of Baringo for establishing the coffee mill, saying his farmers will no longer travel all the way to Kirinyaga.
The investor Cha Bo-Yong said he was moved by the humility and the loving people of Baringo, “that is why I settled on the coffee mill,” he said.
Prof Segor urged farmers to grow more coffee in order to ensure availability of beans for the factory.
He also encouraged them to form cooperative societies so they can easily achieve financial empowerment.
Edited by Henry Makori
