CharlesFrustrated Gatundu coffee farmers decry collapsing factories, put hope on government interventions

Thika, Wednesday, June 21, 2023

KNA by Muoki Charles

Coffee farmers in Gatundu South, Kiambu County are a frustrated lot, following the near collapse of several factories in the area, leaving them with few facilities to take their produce.

The farmers said there has been a gradual collapse of coffee factories owing to growing debt, mismanagement, low prices, coffee hawking and delayed payment and unless urgent interventions are not taken, their main income earner will go down the drain.

They said their only hope is the ongoing government interventions being driven by Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua to clean up the coffee sector so that they can begin reaping better returns from farming.

A visit to the once famous Kiamwangi and Kigaa factories showed neglected structures, bushy compounds and worn-out facilities, compared to years ago when they used to take almost all the coffee produced in the area.

At Kigaa factory, structures are falling off, facilities worn out and the compound deserted; despite it being among the pride of the area, processing over one million kilograms of coffee beans annually, years ago.

According to the Kigaa factory farmers, the factory was among the best paying in the area, but over the years, its returns dropped significantly. Some have since started to take their produce to other better paying factories nearby.

“The current management promised to pay Sh42 per kilogram for last year’s produce. However, nothing has been forthcoming. The other year, we received Sh70 per kilogram because there were some reforms. Some farmers have turned to Ndundu and Gicuka factories where they take their coffee," Kiramba Muchai, one of the farmers said during a farmers meeting yesterday.

Irene Wambui, another farmer, said coffee production levels have declined drastically due to lack of sufficient farm inputs including fertiliser and pesticides.

She said investing in the sector is becoming frustrating, putting hope on the government’s intervention to revive the sector.

“Our hope is on the ongoing reforms by the government in the sector particularly getting rid of cartels. We need to feel the sector by getting better returns,” said Wambui.

Efforts to reach the current management officials who did not appear during the farmers meeting were unproductive.

Deputy President Gachagua has been keen on cleaning up the sector to enable farmers to get good returns and has since held meetings with stakeholders to discuss the troubles in the sub-sector.

Courtesy ; K. N. A