Bungoma politician Moses Nandalwe has asked agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mithika Linturi to come up with a mechanism to support coffee farmers from the Western region.
He argues that they get losses during the production of the cash crop.
In an interview with the Star on Saturday, Nandalwe said that the government has given attention to other crops forgetting that coffee is a major cash crop that can boost the country’s economy.
Most farmers in Bungoma rely on coffee production to mint cash to support their families.
The main cash crops grown in the western region include sugarcane, coffee, cotton, sunflower and tobacco.
Coffee is grown on the slopes of Mt. Elgon, Kabuchai, Sirisia, Kanduyi, Bumula and Tongaren.
Nandalwe argues that with the ailing sugar sector, the Kenya Kwanza government should support the already existing coffee production as a strategy to boost the country’s economy.
“Currently, the main cash crop that is doing well in Western is coffee production but the government has not given it a priority,” he said.
He added:
“I’m a coffee farmer and I get excess losses after I have sold my coffee to the cooperatives,”
However, he called on Bungoma governor Ken Lusaka, Senate speaker Moses Wetang’ula and chief minister Musalia Mudavadi to have talks with President William Ruto and get ways on how coffee farmers will be supported.
“We have our big brothers who were able to get posts in President Ruto’s government, therefore, let them have conversations with the agriculture CS Mithika Linturi and President Ruto to see how coffee production will be boosted,” he said.
Nandalwe called on the government to sign business MoUs with countries where coffee markets are better so that farmers can earn goods.
“I have been to countries like India and business is awesome. If we can partner with such countries then our coffee farmers won’t suffer much,” he said.
