Maize farmers are definitely envious of their coffee counterparts. The maize farming industry has been hit by a wave of different problems in the recent past.
Nothing seems to work for them. But coffee farmers have something to smile about.
Coffee farmers will from July get advance payment from the Government under the Sh3 billion revolving fund to meet the harvesting cost of the beans.
President Uhuru Kenyatta on Tuesday said the government has set aside the money through the Cherry Advance Revolving Funds to help cash-strapped farmers deliver the beans to the factories.
Most small-scale growers struggle to raise cash for harvesting expenses including picking of beans and delivery to factories. This has increased losses at the farm levels.
Coffee farmers will from July get advance payment from the Government under the Sh3 billion revolving fund to meet the harvesting cost of the beans.
President Uhuru Kenyatta on Tuesday said the government has set aside the money through the Cherry Advance Revolving Funds to help cash-strapped farmers deliver the beans to the factories.
Most small-scale growers struggle to raise cash for harvesting expenses including picking of beans and delivery to factories. This has increased losses at the farm levels.
Other reforms include the requirement that all coffee co-operatives present audited annual reports to the agriculture cabinet secretary within six months of every calendar year and to the public as well as hiring directors with good governance record.
“The inaugural audits under the forthcoming enhanced regulatory framework will cover the calendar year 2019, and shall be submitted by all co-operatives on or before December 31,” he said. Mr Kenyatta reckons coffee farming is A tool for easing poverty in rural areas.
The reforms will also include the rehabilitation of 500 pulping stations in 31 counties and ensuring farmers access adequate planting materials. Kenya is globally reputed for production of fine Arabica coffee that has high flavour and pleasant aroma. But production has plummeted to between 40,000 and 50,000 metric tonnes from a peak of 128,941 metric tonnes in the 1983/84 crop year.