Muranga coffee farmers oppose new regulations

Coffee farmers in Muranga County on Wednesday raised concern over new coffee regulations that have been set up, terming them as detrimental to the coffee sub sector.

The farmers from the coffee cooperative societies in Muranga County claimed that some regulations under the legal notice No.21 in the Kenya Gazette Supplement No.105 dated 27^th June 2016 will restrict transportation, introduce cherry hawking and promote coffee theft.

Muranga coffee union chairman Francis Ngone told Citizen Digital that the recommendations suggested would result in the collapse of many coffee Saccos and lead to huge losses in the agriculture sector.

“Restricting transport of parchment to the nearest mile is an affront to the farmers’ right to property and hence would force them to supply coffee to uncertified millers who will not only compromise the quality but also the price,”said the chairman.

Speaking in Muranga Town, the farmers lamented that opening other accounts with the Central Depository Unit included in the regulations is uncalled for and will only lead to collapse of the Saccos.

The coffee farmers therefore appealed to the concerned authorities to instead form a committee to discuss matters on coffee pricing and enforce the existing coffee laws.

They further called on the concerned authorities to avail real-time information to the farmers on the value of their crop in the global market so as to rate their products.

“They should also facilitate the national task force on coffee sub sector reforms to present their report to the coffee farmers whom it was intended to benefit through nationwide seminars,” said the farmers.