The New Kenya Planters Co-operative Union (KPCU) has announced a comprehensive infrastructural and human resource restructuring initiative aimed at enhancing service delivery to coffee farmers across the country.
During a sensitization and consultative meeting held with Tharaka Nithi Estate farmers and Society leaders, New KPCU Managing Director Timothy Mirugi highlighted that the organization is undergoing a significant transitional phase. Key changes include the establishment of a dedicated marketing department.
Mirugi emphasized that the creation of new positions within the marketing department, alongside the signing of new contracts, will improve service delivery and bolster the expertise available for the milling and marketing of coffee.
“The new marketing department will be tasked with ensuring we deliver markets to our coffee farmers. In the next two months, we will bring in more manpower and revamped personnel with the necessary experience to ensure effective service delivery and solve issues in record time,” Mirugi stated.
Addressing the challenges in coffee milling, Mirugi announced a complete overhaul of milling machines and the acquisition of generators to ensure seamless 24-hour operations despite power outages.
Additionally, Mirugi revealed that New KPCU had applied for the Direct Sales Agency License following the expiration of the waiting period, which will allow the organization to participate directly in the sale of coffee. “The waiting period lapsed on 8th June and we are hoping the coffee directorate is going to issue us with an Agency License to be able to participate in the direct sale of coffee as New KPCU,” he said.
In a significant financial relief for coffee farmers, Mirugi announced that the government had waived historical debts amounting to KShs 6.8 billion.
Farmers were encouraged to utilize the Coffee Advance Revolving Fund to boost their coffee production. Between 3rd and 7th June 2024, New KPCU disbursed KShs. 18,415,930 to 4,281 beneficiaries in 11 counties, including Tharaka Nithi, which recorded the second highest number of beneficiaries during the week, with 166 farmers receiving a total of KShs. 2,154,800. To date, KShs 24,225,030 has been disbursed in the county, benefiting 1,987 farmers.
Other changes discussed at the meeting include the hiring of additional field services and the provision of subsidized coffee farming inputs to enhance coffee production.
President William Ruto, in his Madaraka Day speech, announced measures to boost coffee productivity from 2kg to 10kg per tree and from 50,000 metric tonnes to 102,000 metric tonnes annually by 2027.
