Coffee farmers earn Sh9.3b in three months

Coffee farmers sorts coffee cherry. [File, Standard] Coffee farmers have fetched Sh9.3 billion in three months after selling 150,008 bags of coffee through the Nairobi Coffee Exchange (NCE). During auctions conducted in October, November, and December, coffee brokers offered 9,308,922 kgs to local and international buyers. Alliance Berries Limited auctioned 43,131 bags of coffee, which fetched Sh4.9 billion, followed by New KPCU with 24,622 bags, earning Sh1.5 billion. The coffee was sourced from estate and cooperative farmers across various counties. Reports indicate that in October, brokers offered 46,051 bags; in November, 45,924 bags; and in December, 67,957 bags. Other brokers that performed well included Kipkelion, which marketed 17,007 bags earning Sh1 billion; Kirinyaga Slopes, 13,849 bags (Sh888.5 million); and CEBBA, 7,985 bags (Sh475.1 million), among others. In market tabulation, Alliance Berries Limited controlled 28.75 percent, followed by New KPCU with 16.41 percent, Kipkelion 11.34 percent, and Kirinyaga Slopes 9.23 percent, among others. Overall, coffee brokers presented 57,382 bags of grade AA, 43,700 bags of grade AB, and 17,399 bags of grade C, fetching Sh7.74 billion. Regarding grade distribution, Alliance Berries traded 15,552 bags of AA, 17,338 bags of AB, and 3,991 bags of C. Kenya's celebrated coffee value chain expert, Henry Kinyua, said the performance report paints a clear picture of how the NCE market remains concentrated at the top. "The market is competitive on quality and pricing, with farmer-union brokers continuing to provide the backbone that links cooperative and regional supply into Kenya's primary coffee price-discovery platform," said Kinyua. At the auction, Kamacharia Society in Murang'a sold 569 bags of coffee fetching Sh38.1 million, Iyego sold 1,145 bags for Sh73.4 million, and Kangunu sold 282 bags for Sh19.6 million. Godfrey Kanyiri and Simon Gicheru of Kahuhia and Marumi Farmers Cooperatives in Kiharu and Kigumo, respectively, said the government should support farmers to achieve higher production by listening to their concerns. They called for cooperation between growers and the government to ensure teething problems are resolved amicably. John Chege, chairman of Kangunu Farmers Cooperative Society, said the market improved following a shortage in Brazilian coffee caused by adverse weather conditions. "It is high time farmers focus on producing quality coffee to supply both local and international markets, thus earning better returns," said Chege. Kiambu Coffee recorded 579 bags, Bungoma 390 bags, and Baringo Kawa handled 101 bags, ranking them among the least performers. In the dealers' category, 29 buyers participated in trading 133,125 bags. Ibero Kenya took the lead, purchasing 37,890 bags; C. Dormans 26,418 bags; Louis Dreyfus 21,389 bags; Taylor Winch 19,827 bags; Kenyacof 14,015 bags; and Sasini 13,586 bags, among others.

Coffee farmers earn Sh9.3b in three months

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Coffee farmers earn Sh9.3b in three months

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