Farmers in Gatundu South have agreed to form a union that will help them to market their produce.
The union will comprise all the nine coffee societies in the area which currently market their coffee individually.
The resolution was reached during a strategy meeting held in Gatundu town that brought together coffee farmers in the area to deliberate on how to save the sector from collapse.
"The production of coffee has drastically reduced as morefarmers abandon the crop for dairy and other ventures due to low returns. We have to do something to save coffee farming in the area," said Francis Muigai, the vice-chairman of Kimaratia Coffee Farmers Co-operative Union.
Poor leadership
The farmers blamed the challenges facing the coffee sector in the region on poor leadership, which they said had led to the mismanagement and theft of their produce. "Leadership overhaul is inevitable if we are to bring back the coffee farming on track," said Joseph Kaburu, a farmer.
Deputy Governor Gerald Githinji, who attended the meeting, reiterated the county government's commitment to the revival of the coffee sector in the area.
He also revealed that the county government is currently drafting a bill to regulate co-operative societies.
"The law will also ensure that middlemen are eliminated from the supply chain to pave the way for direct marketing of coffee," said Githinji.
Area MP Moses Kuria promised to work with the county government to secure new markets for farmers.
Mr Kuria said police officers have been tasked to coffee factories to check theft of the produce.
