Tharaka Nithi governor Muthomi Njuki has urged the youth to embrace coffee farming since it is more profitable than white collar jobs.
Speaking during the closing ceremony of the three day Coffee Reforms Conference at Three Steers Hotel in Meru town, the governor urged the youth to stop wasting valuable time in search of white collar jobs and instead venture into the lucrative business of coffee farming so as to become self-reliant.
Muthomi argued that the venture can completely resolve the issue of unemployment if the government makes it attractive through improved marketing and better prices for the coffee farmers.
He lamented that the coffee sector is a multibillion income generating business that can create employment to millions of youth.
“One can make more than Ksh2.5 million per acre. This is why we are urging the youth to shift to farming,” he said.
The county boss called on leaders to lead by example by planting and growing coffee to bring back the lost glory of the Kenyan green gold.
He called on the government to empower the youth on coffee farming in order to help in the steady growth of the country’s economy.
The governor said the problem in the coffee industry is the existence of cartels who loot profits meant for the farmers.
He urged farmers to be knowledgeable on coffee marketing so as to know where to sell their crop without being exploited.
He also urged farmers to also ensure they have direct access to the market noting this will enable them avoid going through brokers when selling their produce.
The governor further urged farmers to be licensed by Nairobi Coffee Exchange at a friendly price as another move to fight cartels.
He called on both the county and national governments to make laws to assist farmers from the grassroot level market their products.
By John Majau
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