President William Ruto has announced that the government will waive Sh6.6 billion in debts owed by coffee societies.
Speaking during a farmers’ meeting in Gitoro, Meru County, the Head of State warned society management against borrowing loans from commercial lenders who charge interests as high as 27 percent.
He said factories should borrow from Sh6.7 billion Cherry Advance Fund kitty which charges only three percent interest and that no loan should be borrowed without the consent of all the farmers in a General Meeting.
“We are going to pay the Sh6.6 billion loan but going forward factory management should not take any loan without the knowledge of all the farmers and must be from the Cherry Advance Fund kitty,” said Dr Ruto.
The Head of State who was accompanied by his Deputy Rigathi Gachagua, Interior CS Prof Kithure Kindiki and Agriculture CS Mithika Linturi among other leaders gave Meru Dairy Company Sh100 million for the establishment of a dairy feed factory to promote the availability of quality and cheap feeds.
He asked the Ministry of Agriculture to ensure the importation of yellow maize duty-free in a bid to lower the cost of production of animal feeds for better earnings of the farmers.
He lauded Meru Dairy Company for paying farmers Sh53 per litre and pointed out that from next month, Kenya Cooperative Creameries will also start paying Sh53 per litre.
He announced a reduction of the cost of sexed semen from Sh7000 to Sh2000 and asked CS Linturi to ensure the implementation of the directive.
Dr Ruto also announced the vaccination of an estimated 22 million livestock across the country to ensure that the products are free from diseases for safe local consumption and exportation.
He said his government had achieved great milestone in various sectors including reduction of two kilograms of maize flour from Sh250 to Sh100 lowering the cost of living for Kenyans.
He said last year, the country earned Sh180 billion from tea and next year the target is Sh210 billion.
Dr Ruto directed Prof Kindiki to ensure the establishment of a State House in Meru County where he can occasionally stay and interact with the locals.
Mr Gachagua lauded CS Prof Kindiki for silencing bandits who have been torturing livestock keepers in various parts of the country and especially along the Meru-Isiolo counties border.
“Let us appreciate Prof Kindiki for calming banditry along the Meru/Isiolo border. It is good to appreciate what has been achieved,” said Gachagua.
He also warned coffee factory managements against borrowing loans from exorbitant commercial lenders.
