Farmers union to pump Sh10m into coffee shops in Murang’a

One of the coffee shops that will be launched by Murang’a Farmers Cooperative Union in Murang’a. [Boniface Gikandi, Standard]

A local farmers’ union plans to invest Sh10 million in coffee shops across the county this year.

In a report by the County Coffee Revival Task Force, Murang’a Farmers Cooperative Union aims to promote local coffee consumption though the shops.

The union’s general manager John Kirigwi said the first 10 outlets would be established in major towns in the county.

Some of the towns where the coffee shops will be put up are Murang’a, Kiria ini, Kenol, Maragua, Kigumo, Kirwara and Kangema.

Another 100 outlets will be established inside coffee factories. Mr Kirigwi said the union targets to have 10 per cent of the coffee farmers produce consumed in those shops.

“We want to introduce a coffee drinking culture in Murang’a,” said Kirigwi.

Brewing equipment

There are 144 coffee factories in Murang’a. The union hopes that the county government will help it procure coffee brewing equipment.

“We target college and university students,” said Kirigwi.

The County Coffee Revival Task Force has proposed that the coffee sector be allocated at least Sh3 billion by the county government to save it from total collapse.

The report, which was drafted last year, is awaiting approval by Governor Mwangi wa Iria.

The governor constituted the task force following a steep decline in coffee production from 100 metric tonnes in 1980 to 40 metric tonnes in 2019.

The report said the number of active coffee farmers dropped from 103,045 in 1990 to 55,600 last year.