- Kakamega is a new additional county where the coffee farmers also benefitted from the fund.
- The fund is targeting over 700,000 smallholder coffee farmers in the country.
Image: HANDOUT
The latest data on the implementation of the Coffee Cherry Advance Revolving Fund (CCARF) has revealed significant progress with Sh3.8 billion being disbursed within four months of its launch.
The data reveals that 313,294 beneficiaries have so far benefited from the Sh4.2 billion fund.
Beneficiaries from Nyeri, Kirinyaga, Kiambu, Kericho and Murang'a are the top earners currently.
In a recent disbursement initiative led by the new Kenya Planters Cooperative Union, Sh43,735,714 was distributed to 3,170 beneficiaries across 12 counties.
These are Bungoma, Kakamega, Kericho, Kiambu, Machakos, Meru, Migori, Murang'a, Nyamira, Tharaka Nithi, Trans Nzoia, and Uasin Gishu.
Kakamega is a new additional county where the coffee farmers also benefitted from the fund.
Notably, the Wecohas Farmers Cooperative Society saw 12 beneficiaries receive Sh112,330.
Cooperatives and MSMEs Development Cabinet Secretary Simon Chelugui said in a statement that continuous sensitisation to onboard 33 other counties to benefit from funds is ongoing.
“I am happy with the progress so far, we have laid down a clear map to ensure the farmers from these remaining counties also benefit from this program,” he said.
Chelugui chairs the Coffee Reforms.
The highest disbursement was in Machakos, whereby Kambusu FCS applied for a total of Sh11,544,306 to benefit 1,919 farmers.
Other county disbursements include Kericho which benefitted with Sh9, 039,576 to 189 farmers in four FCSs which include Meswon FCS, Kiguskong FCS, and Kunyak FCS.
The fund is targeting over 700,000 smallholder coffee farmers in the country.
The official disbursement of the funds started in January after the government announced a Sh60 increase to the fund from the previous Sh20.
This meant that farmers would get Sh80 for every kilo of cherry delivered to their respective factories.