Deputy president Rigathi Gachagua says the government wants to do away with middlemen and link farmers directly to consumers.
Speaking during the national coffee summit in Meru county Gachagua said they have identified legal policy and operational gaps in the production and marketing chain.
The deputy president said coffee is a legacy crop for the kenya kwanza administration under president william Ruto.
The coffee sector has been faced with challenges that have almost led to its collapse. The Deputy President said the Kenya Kwanza manifesto has put weight on Agriculture as the backbone of the economy and has expressed willingness to do everything possible to bolster the sector.
The DP said the coffee summit is aimed at coming up with recommendations to address challenges faced by the coffee farmers in the country, Gachagua said farmers must get maximum returns from coffee which will in turn boost the country’s foreign exchange.
“The Summit is the climax of wide consultations with farmers, various State and non-State agencies in the country and outside on sustainable reforms. For far too long, those who sweat most in producing the cash crop have benefited the least. This is why we are here today. We want to link the farmer to the consumer, directly.” Said Gachagua.
The coffee sector has been faced with challenges that have almost led to its collapse.
Gahagua said the Kenya Kwanza manifesto has put weight on Agriculture as the backbone of the economy and has expressed willingness to do everything possible to bolster the sector.
“In the Executive Order Number 1 of 2023, President William Ruto tasked me with overseeing public reforms. Reforming the Coffee, Tea, and Dairy subsectors have formed part of my work as I engage stakeholders towards a turn-around to profitability.” The DP noted.
The Summit will come up with far-reaching reforms that will, among other issues, ensure coffee becomes the leading foreign exchange earner for the country.