Murang'a: Leaders and coffee farmers in Murang'a have called on the government to revamp the coffee sector by writing off all debts, including historical ones. The members of parliament from the coffee-growing areas noted that writing off the debts will enhance profitability while encouraging more farmers to join the venture. Further, they argued, the waiver will rejuvenate the struggling sector and boost the livelihoods of numerous coffee farmers in the country.
According to Kenya News Agency, speaking at Njumbi high school grounds in Mathioya constituency during a NGAAF economic empowerment forum, Nominated MP Sabina Chege urged the government to extend the same courtesy it had extended to sugarcane farmers by writing off coffee farmers' debts. 'For many years we have seen sugarcane farmers enjoying waivers from the government and we ask that the same be extended to farmers in this region so as to revamp the sector,' she said, adding, 'Reforms to stabilize the sector and make it profitable have been put in place, but that this is not enough as huge debts continue to cripple the sector.'
Chege also urged the farmers to ensure they carry out correct farming practices in order to increase production. 'Today we have come with a fast-maturing coffee species whose production and resistance to pests and disease is high and we will continue to support you even as we enjoy the coffee reforms put in place by the government,' continued Chege, adding, 'we have seen an increase in cherry prices, with many societies paying above Sh 100 and we encourage you to leverage on these reforms.'
Echoing similar sentiments, Murang'a County Woman representative Betty Maina called on the government to move with speed and settle the over Sh 6.9 billion in debt owed by coffee farmers. 'As we wait for the government to write off these debts, I urge you to focus on improving coffee production by planting more improved coffee varieties, which will translate into more returns on investment,' she observed, noting coffee farmers rarely get subsidized fertilizer, but with the ongoing reforms in the coffee sub-sector, the government should consider availing cheap fertilizer which will help improve production.
Maina further lauded the new management of Kangunu farmers' cooperative society, which for more than 10 years had faced management wrangles resulting in massive losses until the government through Trade and Cooperatives CS Wycliffe Oparanya intervened and disbanded the then management. 'We have already seen results and increased production and I therefore urge farmers not to cut their coffee bushes but to strive in planting more improved varieties to produce cherry that will fetch more at the coffee auction hence more earnings for the farmers,' she said.
The farmers, on the other hand, said the reforms had benefitted them as earnings had plummeted but called on the government to support farmers in planting more improved varieties, including Batian and the Ruiru 11 that are high producing and resistant to diseases compared to SL variety that most of them currently had in their farms. 'Help our farmers plant varieties that are resistant to CBD as the cost of farm inputs are expensive, but with varieties that are resistant to major diseases and pests our farmers will be able to get more profits.' Observed the new Kangunu farmers' cooperative society chairperson John Chege.
One of the young farmers, Elijah Mugane, noted that the coffee reforms and the overhaul of the society's management had encouraged him to continue growing the crop. He urges the young people to venture into coffee farming, as it is a sure way of improving their livelihoods. 'Coffee farming is lucrative and with all reforms in place, I urge my fellow youth to engage in this farming since we have the energy and know-how to increase production unlike our parents, who are now advanced in age,' he advised.
During the forum, farmers from Gitugi and Kangunu societies received 10,000 coffee seedlings of the Batian variety to boost their production.