By Kiptanui Rutto.
Meru North farmers are calling on the National and County governments to look into the coffee and tea sub-sectors which are in a deteriorating state.
Speaking to Sacco Review during an interview, MikinduriCoffee Factory, Manager Joseph Kobia, said they now rely on few coffee farmers for the cash crop that could be the leading cash crops in the market.
“We only have one member who supplies us with high quality berries and he is the highest supplier thus making our factory the leading one in the region, the others have been hit hard by low prices thus losing hope in coffee farming,” Kobia said.
He said the main challenge is the sale price while the cost of in-puts is soo high thus discouraging many farmers.
Kobia noted that some Saccos have come to their rescue but farmers fear taking loans since they cannot afford to repay them.He said the Government should intervene and save this situation by providing a lasting solution to the coffee prices like Ethiopia has done adding that without that, coffee farming in Kenya will fail.
The manager appealed to farmers to join Saccos and be active members for them to enjoy the returns.
