By Ben Oroko
Smallholder coffee growers drawn from the two Gusii counties of Kisii and Nyamira can now directly sell their coffee produce to consumers in South Korea without going through brokers in the coffee marketing chain.
This comes after the giant Gusii Coffee Farmers Co-operative Union (GCFCU), an umbrella of 28 primary coffee co-operative societies spread across the two counties, signed a trade deal with Good Beans Company, a South Korean coffee buying and marketing firm.
The direct coffee export deal was signed by the Union’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Dr Robert Mainya and the Good Beans CEO Mr. Kang Sunggyu in the presence of the Kisii County Executive Committee Member (CECM) for Agriculture Mr Esman Onsarigo.
Sunggyu, who was accompanied by the chairman of the Presidential Task Force on the Coffee Sub-sector in the country Prof Joseph Keyah, an Official from the Korean Embassy in Kenya Ms Park So Young, and Good Beans Manager Ms Jane Mbagara, promised to improve local coffee farmers’ premiums to levels worthy of their investment.
“I am excited and impressed by smallholder coffee farming activities in Kisii region, which looks climatically endowed in terms of quality coffee production for the export market,” stated Sunggyu.
He observed that the region was one of the best in strategic coffee production.
He clarified that his company will facilitate periodical shipping of coffee consignments to the South Korea market, adding that the initiative will not exert pressure on the farmers and producers to reach certain target volumes before they are dispatched to the market.
Onsarigo expressed optimism that the direct coffee export deal will turn around the struggling coffee sub-sector to ensure farmers from the region who had technically abandoned the crop for alternative economic activities switch back to full time coffee farming.
“The signing of this direct coffee export deal between our giant Union and business friends from South Korea is not only a milestone to the Kisii County Government, but also a turning point for the coffee sub-sector in the region,” stated Onsarigo.
He said the move will stir a healthy competition in the local coffee marketing chain, leading to good premiums to smallholder coffee farmers who have been held at ransom by middlemen.
Dr Mainya assured Good Beans Company that the Union will ensure they get quality coffee beans through good crop husbandry and agronomic practices to meet international standards.
“I wish to assure our trade partners that we will take it upon ourselves to ensure the coffee beans meet quality and international standards set out in the international trade treaties,” promised Mainya.
Prof.Keyah lauded the direct coffee export deal, describing it as a game-changer in the local coffee production and marketing landscape, which for decades remained a preserve of brokers to the detriment of farmers.
“The direct coffee export deal signed today marks a major milestone in the history of the coffee industry in the country since it will free the farmers from the chains of brokers in the coffee marketing chain,” said Keyah.
He said there had never been a moment where a buyer and producer came together on a round table to discuss issues around coffee pricing and marketing.
South Korea is the fourth largest buyer and consumer of Kenyan coffee after Belgium, Germany and the USA. Its coffee consumption is ranked the eleventh largest in the world with an estimated annual consumption of about 512 cups per capita and over 110,000 coffee cafes, making it a lucrative and booming market for Kenyan coffee in the Asian country.
