Cabinet Secretary for Cooperatives Simon Chelugui says coffee production in Nyeri County is on the rise following revitalisation of the sector.
He said he had received “encouraging” reports from Muthua-ini in Nyeri Town constituency where coffee production is averaging 25-30kgs per tree, with the owner targetting up to 60kgs by the 5th year.
He said he was encouraged by reports emerging from Nyeri County; the revitalization of the coffee sector is starting to bear fruit.
“With the target average price of sh150 per kg= 9k per bush minimum of 500 bushes in an acre =Sh4.5 million. That’s what the farmer is set to earn all factors held constant,” said Chelugui in a statement.
He said it was gratifying to note that the apathy that prevailed in the past has been replaced by enthusiasm.
Chelugui said he was glad that farmers have embraced the coffee reforms wholeheartedly and the journey to restore the lost glory is firmly on track.
He said at his Ministry, they have set a target to improve coffee production through the relevant co-operatives and in partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture.
“We are doing this through promotion of good prices, field extension services and marketing because we want our farmers value to get value for money,” he said in a statement.
He said the coffee sector is a key factor in the Bottom Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA) and all efforts are channelled on the revival plans.
Chelugui said the overall target is to push production back to 100, 000 metric tonnes and even more.
