Lusaka Calls For Global Standardized Prices For Kenyan Coffee
Bungoma Governor Kenneth Lusaka who’s also the Council of Governor’s Agriculture Committee Chair has called for standardization of Kenyan coffee prices.
Speaking during a high level coffee exposure tour in Colombia, Lusaka observed that exploitation of farmers who are the key pillar in the value chain is the cause of declined coffee production in Kenya.
“About 31 out of 47 Counties in Kenya are coffee producers and our coffee is top notch hence we should not be struggling with markets; penetration of cartels in the coffee sector has really demotivated our farmers,” he decried.
The principal challenged the National Government to weed out coffee cartels who have been the biggest setback on farmers’ value chain addition.
“The biggest obstacle we have in the country is the invasion of cartels to agriculture sector denying farmers chance to enjoy the fruits of their hard labour ; government needs to move with speed to get rid of cartels inflating the coffee sector,” divulged Lusaka.
He hailed Colombia for leading from the top in coffee production while adding that the best practices, experience and knowledge acquired from the high level coffee exposure visit will be implemented in betterment of Kenyan coffee growers livelihoods.
“This working visit has been an eye opener and as we head back home, we will purpose to improve the livelihoods of our farmers through value chain addition,” he affirmed.
Lusaka further committed, through the COG Agriculture Committe to see to an improvement in the global coffee market by strengthening research, coffee marketing, value chain addition and extension for the benefit of Kenyan coffee farmers.
Conclusively, he expressed optimism in the revival of Kenya’s coffee market, noting that forged bilateral collaboration between Kenya and Colombia will work magic in the global economy.
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