Coffee cooperative societies in Kericho County have called for fairness and equality in the distribution of the Coffee Cherry Advance Revolving Fund (CCARF).
Speaking in Fort Ternan during a coffee stakeholders’ forum, Chairman of Kipkelion Coffee Mill Mathew Bore complained of systemic inequality in the distribution of the revolving fund, claiming that societies which supplied their products to particular millers were being favoured.
“When our farmers missed the Cherry Fund money, they resorted to borrowing expensive loans from National and Cooperative Bank and as we speak, a majority are unable to service and we therefore appeal to the government to help them through a debt write-off,” he said.
Bore also said that the Fund should not be micro-managed by a few individuals who might be corrupt but should be operated openly in a transparent manner.
Also in attendance, Cabinet Secretary for Cooperatives and MSMEs Simon Chelugui dispelled the discrimination fears saying that the Fund was meant to benefit all coffee farmers across the country and the matter will be looked into immediately.
“All the coffee producers and farmers have the same right to access the Coffee Cherry Revolving Fund and we regret for the lack of access. The problem will be sorted as soon as possible,” he said.
Chelugui asked Kericho Governor Dr. Erick Mutai and officers from the cooperatives department to compile the debts of every coffee society, which will be forwarded to the national government for consideration of the write-off request.
Kericho Senator Aaron Cheruiyot called for quick establishment of the Guaranteed Minimum Return on Coffee which he suggested should start at Ksh80 shillings.
Area Member of Parliament Hillary Koskei called on the New KPCU to employ local youth for field-related jobs saying that they were more conversant with the terrain.
By Benedict Ngetich
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