Win for coffee farmers as Gov’t opens direct international market

The government is now opening the coffee auction’s direct market, both local and international, so that Kenyan farmers can get the best prices for their products.

Speaking on Citizen TV’s ‘Kenya’s Gold’ programme, New Kenya Planters Cooperative Union (KPCU) Managing Director Timothy Mirugi said coffee farmers have for a long time been paid in Kenya shillings despite the buyers making purchases in US dollars.

According to Mr. Mirugi, coffee consumers are paying a premium yet the farmers are receiving peanuts.

Hence, the government has resorted to supporting coffee farmers by giving them subsidies on farm inputs, as well as promote transparency by giving them information on how much their products cost at auctions.

“Beyond the farm, we are bringing in transparency, we want to show the farmer how much your coffee cost at the auction,” said Mr. Mirugi.

“We are now opening the auction and the direct market, so that the farmer can get the very best price that not only the national market but the international market can offer.”

He said that the government is further providing extension services to farmers through county partnerships, where they are operating demo farms which will help to empower farmers with knowledge.

This, the New KPCU boss added, will help farmers to enjoy quality, quantity and more money in their pockets.

The remarks come after Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua previously said Kenya is eyeing direct sales of coffee to the US, Germany and other lucrative markets as part of the ongoing reforms of linking farmers to the buyers for better returns.

"Most of our coffee is bought by Americans from the brokers. I met the US Ambassador to Kenya Meg Whitman early this week. We discussed marketing our coffee in the US," he said at his official residence in Karen Nairobi during an interview with a iNooro FM last month.