A cooperative society in Murang’a is working towards significantly boosting its coffee production, aiming to exceed 1.8 million kilos per harvest season. The Kangunu Farmers’ Cooperative Society, located in Mathioya Sub-County, has embarked on a new initiative to educate its members on best farming practices in order to improve production levels and the quality of the coffee beans.
The cooperative recently saw a change in management, with new officials taking office in December. These new leaders have promised to guide farmers toward increased earnings by bringing in experts to train and educate them on how to enhance their production techniques. The cooperative’s chairman, John Chege, highlighted that the cooperative currently produces about 680,000 kilos of coffee per season, a figure he described as low considering the number of farmers associated with the society.
The goal of the new management is to bring the cooperative’s production back up to 2 million kilos per season, a capacity that the society has had in the past. However, under the previous leadership, mismanagement led to a sharp decline in production levels. As part of the strategy to improve outcomes, the cooperative is focusing on both increasing overall production and ensuring that the quality of coffee is improved. Quality beans tend to fetch better prices at auction, which would contribute to higher earnings for the farmers.
During an education day, Chairman Chege emphasized the importance of training farmers on how to produce coffee that meets the required quality standards. This would ensure that farmers are able to take advantage of higher prices for premier grades of coffee. He also called on the government to provide subsidized fertilizers, which would be crucial in boosting the productivity of coffee farms. According to Chege, coffee farmers rarely receive subsidized fertilizer, and this lack of support has hindered the growth potential of the sector. With ongoing reforms in the coffee industry, Chege urged the government to prioritize affordable fertilizer availability for farmers to enhance production.
The cooperative’s progress is even more significant considering that it marks the first time in over a decade that farmers have come together for a productive program. The cooperative had been plagued by internal conflicts, with physical fights breaking out due to mismanagement of funds and deductions from farmers’ earnings without their consent. Last year, the government intervened, and the management committee was disbanded. The new leadership is now working on addressing the financial mismanagement, with plans to conduct audits and hold those responsible for the misappropriation of funds accountable.
In terms of technical training, experts from Alliance Berries Limited, George Mwangi and Samuel Njoroge, were brought in to guide the farmers on the adoption of modern agricultural techniques. Mwangi stressed that farmers need to embrace new technologies and methodologies in order to improve both production and the quality of their coffee. He mentioned that Kangunu is among the best cooperatives when it comes to producing high-quality coffee and encouraged farmers to maintain this reputation by focusing on increasing production while ensuring quality is not compromised.
Mwangi also highlighted the importance of quality coffee at the auction, where buyers often prioritize high-grade beans that can fetch premium prices. By focusing on these aspects, the farmers can look forward to better returns, which would significantly improve their livelihoods.
One of the farmers, Peter Mwangi, expressed his excitement about the changes within the cooperative. He noted that it was the first time the society had organized an educational forum in many years, especially considering the past history of chaos during meetings, when farmers were not allowed to ask questions or express concerns. Now, with the guidance of experts, the farmers are optimistic about achieving the cooperative’s production targets.
The cooperative is hopeful that with continued education, government support, and proper management, they will be able to reach their production goals and ensure that their coffee remains of high quality, bringing in better returns for the farmers in the future.
