Kiambu coffee farmers decry poor prices, leaders call for State intervention

KIAMBU COUNTY: Coffee farmers in Kiambu County have continued to decry poor coffee prices compared to other counties in Central Kenya where the prices are better.

Farmers who spoke to The Standard said their respective societies are paying between Sh20 and Sh30 per kilogramme of coffee beans delivered.

Area Senator Kimani Wamatangi has asked both the national and county governments to help farmers source for good foreign markets.

Mr Wamatangi said most farmers are abandoning the previously lucrative activity to venture into other sectors such as real estate due to poor prices, a situation which has also befell tea farmers.

“Something needs to be done to save the situation because coffee farmers are getting a raw deal. Marketing has continued to be the major issue due to middlemen and cartels, which exploit farmers but if the Government would help source the market, we will save the situation,” Wamatangi said.

“With value addition, we will increase the prices, create jobs in the factories and lure more people especially the youth to agriculture. We will also be able to fetch revenue that will enable us develop,” he added.

Raymond Wanyugi, a coffee farmer from Ndumberi said the cost of production surpasses the wages while in other counties, farmers are getting Sh40 and above.

“The cost of producing and delivering a kilogramme of coffee beans is Sh35 and therefore when a farmers is paid Sh20-Sh30, the farmers is getting nothing,” Mr Wanyugi said.