Kenya Seeks Support of Colombia in Coffee Reforms. The Colombian National Coffee Federation has been urged to work with Kenyan producers to increase yields and generate higher profits by Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.
The Deputy President claimed that Kenya could learn a lot from Colombia as it attempts to revitalize the industry during a meeting with hundreds of members of the Federation in Chinchina County, Caldas State in Colombia.
“We need your assistance reviving the Coffee Research Foundation and learning from your nation’s strong research capabilities. We are in awe of your ability to unite 540,000 farmers under a single federation. We want to learn from you about this, said Gachagua.
Vice President Francia Elena Marquez Mina was also with them and served as the DP’s host for the meeting and subsequent visit to the Naranjal Research Farm in the State.
He pleaded with the country to share its triumphs, claiming that Colombia is a global leader in the production of coffee.
“The global market is enormous. There is no rivalry between us. He said that we are open to partnership conversations and are asking the Colombia Federation to work with us so you can market our coffee in your markets.
According to Mr. Gachagua, the sector is on the mend, and the Kenya Coffee Research Foundation will undergo a makeover to redouble its efforts to revive the industry’s profitability.
“We need your assistance with research, please. We had a very good research facility, the Coffee Research Foundation, but due to policy errors, the study was discontinued, and as a result, we have not developed better, disease-resistant kinds,” he said.
The government wants to raise the area under production from 116,000 Hectares to 170,000 Hectares and the output of coffee from two kilograms of cherries per tree per year to 10 kilograms.
Other measures include reviving important organizations like the Coffee Research Institute and the Coffee Board of Kenya and reintroducing agricultural extension officers in the countryside.
The DP affirmed the Kenya Kwanza administration’s goal to directly enter the global coffee market rather than depending on brokers while supporting closer coordination with the Colombian government.
“We make premium coffee, but our growers receive nothing in return. We used to produce 200,000 metric tonnes annually, but the production decreased due to farmers losing motivation due to low prices. We currently produce 51,000 metric tonnes annually, he noted.
He claimed that allowing the industry to continue at the whim of self-serving intermediaries looking to take advantage of devout farmers was no longer tenable.
“The individuals buying our coffee have prevented us from entering the global market; our problem is not the soils; the rain is good; farmers are diligent. Our attempts to break into the market have failed. The coffee growers cry all the way to the farms while the brokers smile all the way to the bank. That is the unfortunate circumstance we are in,” he remarked.
The infrastructure for processing coffee is being modernized and digitalized with assistance from the government.
The DP is accompanied by Principal Secretaries Julius Korir (Cabinet Affairs, ODP), Governor Hillary Barchok of Bomet, Senator Kamau Murango of Kirinyaga, Senator Wahome Wamatinga of Nyeri, and Duncan Mathenge, Chairman of the Parliamentary Coffee Caucus. Several coffee farmers from different counties also joined them.
