Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has pledged to get rid of cartels in the coffee sector, saying that farmers must earn 95 per cent price of coffee sold to buyers directly.
Speaking when he opened the coffee conference in Meru Gachagua said that the time is up for cartels in the industry and that the government will restore farmers' dignity.
“I want to state clearly that as Kenya kwanza administration led by our president William Ruto we have zero interest in farmers money so cartels your time is up we must restore farmers dignity by ensuring that they get ninety five percent of their produce worth,” he said.
Further, Gachagua said that a long chain of brokers in the marketing of the crop is to blame for poor pay, which has led to low production.
“This issue of farmers being peanuts is to blame for low production how do you expect a farmer who is paid poorly to work hard in his or her farm ,if we address the issue of marketing then outmatically farmers will go back to their farms and work,” said Gachagua.
Did you read this?
On his part, Minister for Cooperative Simon chelugui said that lack of regulation of coffee exchange is to blame for the perennial poor price of coffee at the Nairobi coffee auction.
