- Key resolutions were made during the conference including re-establishing the Coffee Board of Kenya as proposed in the Coffee Bill 2023.
- The DP said the recommendations will be acted on within the next 90 days.
Image: DPPS
Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has affirmed that the government will implement recommendations from the just concluded two-day coffee summit in Meru.
The DP said the conference was fruitful and efforts will be made to make the sector profitable.
He said the recommendations will be fine-tuned by a select team, comprising farmers, leaders and stakeholders in the coffee production chain.
"This forum is not a talk show. This sub-sector must be turned around urgently. The secretariat will put together the recommendations and ensure they come up with the necessary pieces of legislation, policies and administrative actions to be undertaken," he said.
Key resolutions were made during the conference including reestablishing the Coffee Board of Kenya as proposed in the Coffee Bill 2023.
The Board will be tasked with overseeing the industry at the national level.
A Coffee Federation was also proposed and will bring together farmers and all the stakeholders in the sector.
They recommended increasing budgetary allocation for extension services for more farmers to benefit from them.
They also called for the restructuring of funding modalities targeting the sector including the Cherry Fund, Coffee Development Fund and Commodity Fund to make them friendlier and more accessible to farmers.
The DP said the recommendations will be acted on within the next 90 days.
He said they will not be intimidated by those ready to dissuade them from fighting for the rights of farmers.
"I know the cartels are already looking for stakeholders and MPs to compromise. But I know our leaders are beyond being compromised and they will stand firm against such ill attempts," he said.
Other proposals included the empowerment of the Pest Control Board to regulate pesticides to fight coffee diseases.
They want to make the National Coffee Cooperative Union (NACCU) an umbrella body tasked with setting coffee prices.
Others were to adopt new and emerging technologies at the pulping stations and need to digitise operations of the societies and unions.
There were also calls for the construction of coffee aggregation centres to improve the quality of the coffee and fetch higher prices.
Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mithika Linturi said the Ministry was eagerly waiting for the recommendations to commence implementation of what it will be tasked with.
"We will do everything within the purview of the law to ensure the coffee sector is a top earner once again," Linturi said.