Kenyan Coffee Farmers Reject Government Directive On Coffee Payment – CoffeeTalk

A leading coffee society in Murang’a, Gatagua Cooperative Society, has rejected Cooperatives Cabinet Secretary Wycliffe Oparanya’s directive on coffee payments to growers. The farmers, led by their chairman Nahason Chege, argue that Oparanya’s decision will not address the concerns experienced in the management of the societies. They believe that the directive should have assisted growers with support to nurture their coffee, rather than only coming to direct on payment.

Susan Wangechi proposed that growers should allow them to market their produce, as some have neglected this. The government has abandoned the coffee farmers as no inputs are channelled to the sector. Chege argued that the government should focus on resolving the challenges affecting operations and pay extension officers to educate them on better lucrative farming and generate more revenue.

In Nyeri and Kiambu, farmers have complained that their production has declined due to lack of inputs. The farmers at Gatagua Cooperative Society have rejected the directive to submit their details to the Nairobi Coffee Exchange (NCE) and instead want payment made in the societies. The government should focus on addressing the challenges affecting operations and ensuring that coffee proceeds are remitted directly to growers’ accounts.

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