Embu coffee farmers reject new regulations



 Coffee farmers in Embu County have opposed a raft of proposed changes meant to reform the sub-sector and called on President Uhuru Kenyatta to stop their implementation.
Chairpersons of 24 cooperatives said they fear that the proposed changes by the Prof Kieyah-led task force will destabilise the societies to the detriment of the local economy.
They based their rejection of the new rules on that rule 8(5) creates a loophole for farmers to move out of their societies with unsettled debts, which if allowed would lead to the cooperative’s collapse.
They warned that an alternative market for cherry will lead to massive theft of the produce both on farm and the stores.
“In anticipation of this opportunity, some coffee merchants last season set up shop in the county and enticed many farmers to divert much of their crop from societies,” they said in a joint statement read by Murue Cooperative Soceity chairman Muriuki Maruku.
The chairpersons also reject the proposal to create a pricing committee, arguing that free market forces should reign.
They explained that many cooperatives are now certified coffee producers who adhere to international best practices, hence can fetch higher prices than the one traded at the Exchange.
 They rejected the proposal to create a central depository unit, saying even though the unit must have been inspired by the need to keep coffee cash out of the reach of cooperative officials, not all officials are thieves.
They instead called for the enforcing of existing laws against errant officials instead of criminalising all officials in general.
They further faulted the proposal to allow the county governments to mobilise growers for coffee marketing, saying the devolved governments should stick to providing legislative, policy or financial support to boost coffee production.
The chairmen also raised concern that the new regulations restrict committees to basic operation budget, which would lead to diminishing of their roles hence the societies’ collapse.
“At present, many societies go beyond the primary task of coffee processing. They provide school fees, medical expenses, payment of NSSF dues and others,” said Maruku.
The chairmen thus called on the president to disband the implementation committee and appoint a fresh team that is willing to engage the bona-fide coffee stakeholders to find a long lasting solution to coffees woes in Kenya.



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