CS Munya issues a two weeks ultimatum for cooperative societies to sign Coffee cherry funds forms
6th February, 2021
Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Peter Munya has issued a two weeks ultimatum for corperative societies to sign Coffee cherry funds forms failure, which they will be dissolved. An angry CS blasted the CEC Agriculture saying agriculture is devolved and therefore should should have acted swifly. The CS said the government has set aside sh 7 billion for reviving the coffee sector which will be used for modernizing coffee factories and installing ICT equipment for farmers to access real time sale of their coffee. During a public participation in Embu on modernizing coffee factories and coffee bill 2020, Cabinet Secretary, Peter Munya said the funds will also be used in soil testing in coffee growing zones. The CS said through the Coffee Revitalization Project, the government will also employ extension officers who will be sourced locally to guide farmers in coffee production. Munya said the government has also set aside ksh 3 billion as a cherry advance fund for farmers to access loans at very low interest of 3%, coffee deposited being the collateral. He has given coffee societies 14 days to ensure the farmers fill the forms and process their loans to enhance uptake of the funds which he said is still low. Munya also noted the ministry is in the process of drafting coffee regulations which after public participation and approval by legislators will streamline the coffee sector leading to increased benefit to farmers. The CS said the government will reinstate coffee related institutions such as Coffee board of Kenya, Coffee Research Foundation, and Coffee Exchange among others for efficient performance in the sector. He said that the regulations will bar millers from buying coffee and providing loans and advances to farmers because of conflict of interest.
