MP Nyoro says Agriculture sector budget slashed

Kiharu Member of Parliament Ndindi Nyoro has vowed to use House procedures to reinstate slashed funds in the agriculture sector budget, including what he says is Ksh.1 billion hived off the Coffee Cherry Fund.

Speaking at Gatagua, where he launched coffee drying equipment, Nyoro accused the Treasury of sidelining farmers, saying the cuts will expose them to expensive credit facilities.

"Coffee Cherry Fund inafanyanga wakulima wanapata kukopa pesa ya chini so that they do not suffer with expensive debts. And every financial year we allocate money to help farmers repay loans of the previous years,’ he said.

He says other areas that suffered massive cuts in the Budget Policy Statement include the fertiliser subsidy program, which was hit with a Ksh.7 billion cut.

“Lakini kwa hii bajeti imeletwa, pia hiyo pesa imetolewa, which is not a very good indication. And because the process is still ongoing, we will make sure we return that money to where it should be so that isaidie wakulima wetu,” added Nyoro.

During the event also celebrating five years of progress since the inception of the Society, Gatagua Coffee Farmers Cooperative Society was rebranded to Gatagua Agro Marketing Farmers Cooperative Society.

The MP launched various facilities, including new dryers, a security system including a watch tower & CCTV system, and a new digital weighing system.