Coffee, tea reforms drag on as farmers seek Sh3b fund cash

A coffee worker at Gacatha Coffee Factory. Small scale coffee farmers have embraced the government agenda to revive the country’s coffee sector with a Sh3 billion cherry advance revolving fund to farmers with an interest of three percent per annum. Kibata Kihu/Standard

The government is yet to operationalise the Sh3 billion coffee Cherry Advance Revolving Fund that would be a welcome relief for cash-strapped farmers, seven months later.

The delay has forced farmers to wait longer for payment after delivery of beans to factories. This is despite assurances by Trade Cabinet Secretary Peter Munya that the government is working on the final details that will see farmers receive direct disbursements to their bank accounts.