•Governor Natembeya spoke at the Muroki Coffee Farmers Cooperative Society during the World Coffee international day celebrations.
•He challenged farmers to focus on productivity for profitability.
Image: FILE
Trans Nzoia governor George Natembeya Saturday praised coffee farmers in the county for their dedication and hard work in growing the cash crop.
The County chief said his administration is committed to uplifting the lives of local coffee farmers.
He said demand for coffee has been declining due to poor prices.
Governor Natembeya spoke at the Muroki Coffee Farmers Cooperative Society during the International Coffee Day celebrations.
He challenged farmers to focus on productivity for profitability.
"The coffee sector has also faced myriad challenges including climate change, shrinking arable land area and low returns," he said.
"It is indeed illogical for a county like Trans Nzoia to be ranked among other counties with low coffee production when we have all the potential," he said.
He called for the urgent removal of all barriers that hinder coffee farmers from reaping maximum profits from the cash crop.
"As we consider these challenges, there is clearly a need to help our farmers increase local coffee production, and for consumers to support them directly by buying locally manufactured coffee products," he added.
The Governor said that the lack of proper regulations had given room for middlemen to benefit from coffee at the expense of hardworking farmers thus leading to a decline in production.
Agriculture, Cooperatives and Livestock CEC Maria Nzomo said her ministry had all along been supportive of coffee farmers that have been labouring to improve their families lives.
The CEC regretted that wrangles among members of cooperative societies had hampered production.
"We challenge residents of this county to buy locally manufactured coffee products which is the only concrete way of uplifting their livelihoods," she said.
Agriculture, livestock and fisheries Chief officer Robert Musikoyo challenged coffee farmers to take advantage of the Coffee Farm Inputs Stimulus Package E-Subsidy Programme.
"The subsidy programme will allow coffee farmers to access a wide range of inputs of their choice at the required time, and at the nearest input supplier through an e-voucher system," he said.
Saboti MCA Bonface Cheloti asked the governor to among other things help upgrade the road which he said had become impassable.
"Farmers have had it rough transporting their products to coffee societies. We are appealing to the County administration to help upgrade the roads," he said.
Machewa MCA Kisiangani Wambwa said the county legislative arm had decided to put aside all political party inclinations for the sake of development.
New Kenya Planters Cooperative Union Director Gloria Wamalwa said the union had revived warehouses all over the country to boost coffee production.
"We are planning to revive a coffee milling farm here in Kitale to boost coffee production which is now our core business. The board will ensure that farmers benefit from the coffee subsidy," she said.
The function was attended by international coffee buyers who pledged to assist local farmers get better prices for their products.