Murang’a Cooperative Union in Kenya has announced that farmers who supply their coffee to the union will benefit from minimum guaranteed price for cherry delivered beginning October this year.
The Union will set Sh70 as minimum price for every kilo of cherry supplied to the milling plant. All the 144 coffee factories within Murang’a County are affiliated to the Union which is currently in the process of relocating its milling plant from Maragua town to the society farm at Ikundu area.
Governor Mwangi wa Iria commissioned construction of the new mill saying the new facility will assist in increasing coffee prices hence better returns to farmers. The new milling plant which is set to be operational by November, will help farmers enjoy minimum guaranteed price for coffee delivered as well as access subsidized farms inputs.
Divergent rates
The new plant that will be constructed to a tune of Sh50 million is set to increase milling capacity from 1.5 to 2. 5 metric tons per hour. Wa Iria noted that the facility will help the farmers to process, brand and package their coffee which will attract better prices locally and internationally.
Currently, the local coffee factories have been paying divergent rates ranging from Sh40 to Sh120. Governor Wa Iria said setting a minimum guaranteed price will safeguard farmers from being exploited by their respective societies.
“Murang’a coffee is known for its good quality. The milling plant has already acquired a license to export coffee as well as sell their products at the Nairobi Coffee Exchange. There are some old debts which the union is associated with, there is a need to edit those debts and find out if they are genuine. Farmers should not be prevented from getting better pay because of long term debts,” Wa Iria said.
Apart from the price, the Union is working out to give farmers high yielding coffee seedlings. From the next rain season, farmers affiliated to the union will be issued with the best coffee variety with the aim of increasing production.
