The Sh 1 billion subsidy programme started by President Uhuru Kenyatta has already benefited 60,000 farmers to a tune of Sh 450 million.
Cabinet Secreary for Agriculture Peter Munya made the revelations when he met hundreds of farmers in Tharaka Nithi County on Wednesday.
“Under the program, 80,087 farmers from 18 counties have so far been registered for the program out of which 59,000 farmers have already benefitted from the subsidy at a cost of Kshs 450 Million,” Munya said.
He said the establishment of the KES 1 billion farm Inputs Subsidy Programme was aimed at reducing the cost of inputs and to improve the application of inputs.
Munya said the programme has already had a strong impact on coffee production that is on the rise.
He noted that the strategic reforms that he had been spearheading for the past 2 years, are aimed at taking back the sector to the farmer.
On the KES 2.70 billion Cherry Revolving Fund established under the administration of New KPCU Ltd, a total of Sh 177,836,478.60 has been disbursed benefiting 15,703 farmers from 16 counties and sensitization is ongoing to reach out to more farmers.
He said the introduction of the cherry fund, has improved liquidity to farmers enabling them to access basic commodities such as farm inputs as they wait for coffee sales.
Munya called on county governments, industry stakeholders, the private sector, the trading fraternity and the media to support the reform agenda.
He urged coffee buyers to continue sourcing Kenyan coffee and to give our farmers favourable coffee prices for sustainability of the coffee business.
Munya made the remarks after holding sensitization meetings at Mitheru ACC Grounds and Ciakariga Chief Grounds in Tharaka Nithi County, on national coffee farm inputs stimulus subsidy programme and coffee cherry advance Revolving fund.
