Kenyan Government plans to “revitalise the coffee sector”
According to reports that are doing the rounds, a new, ambitious plan has been laid out by the Kenyan government.
A senior official, speaking earlier this week, has stated that there is a movement to see the African country produce double the amount of coffee it does now, increasing output from 50,000 tonnes per annum to 100,000.
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Government raises concern about the Kenyan coffee industry
Reports emanating out of Kenya suggest that the national government has expressed cautious concerns that the country may lose their privileged position in the world’s coffee market because production levels are predicted to drop.
Currently, Kenya is producing in the region of 50,000 tonnes (metric) per year – a sharp decline from the nation’s peak of 130,000 tonnes which was achieved in the late 1980s.
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Kenyan farmers petition parliament to investigate Cooperative Commissioner
The long-standing battle that has engulfed the reformed Kenya Planters’ Co-Operative Union has flared up again recently as coffee farmers petitioned the government to have one of its senior members investigated, stating that he is purposefully hampering the KPCU’s immediate growth.
Kenyan farmers want Patrick Musyimi to be investigated regarding a conflict of interest. Musyimi is the Commissioner for Cooperatives and also sits on the board of the Kenya Coffee Cooperative Exporters (KCCE), an organisation which actively competes with the KPCU.
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Arson attack in Mukurweini – Coffee farmers blamed
A group from agitated and angry coffee farmers have attacked property and local businesses before moving onwards to a nearby coffee factory and setting that ablaze before fleeing upon the arrival of the police.
According to local reports the farmers are all predominantly affiliated with the Ramukia Co-operative, which is based in the Kenyan province of Mukurweini.
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KPCU elections annulled, battle rages on
The long-standing battle over control of the Kenya Planters Cooperative Union (KPCU) looks set to continue as a recent High Court statement which has ruled that the recent elections should be considered null and void.
The elections have been a cause for contempt amongst rival factions, with claim and counterclaim being alleged about their legality.
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KPCU state payments could be missed due to Government enforced elections
Payments owed to Kenyan coffee farmers could be in jeopardy due the doubt that is surrounding the Kenya Planters’ Co-operative Union, so say members of the KPCU’s board. The uncertainty, they claim, has been brought about by the sustained calls for fresh elections by members of the local government.
Earlier on this month William Gatei, the Co-operative’s chairman stoically maintained that no fresh vote was needed: “We were given a three year mandate last year… Further, the government has not communicated to us formally,” he said.
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Doubts once again circle the Kenya Planters Cooperative Union
Years ago the Kenya Planters Cooperative Union (KPCU) was the pride of the nation’s coffee industry, but the bubble burst. The livelihoods of farmers across the country were put under threat and the coffee miller itself entered administration on more than one occasion due to lingering debts.
But now with an agreement in place with the Kenya Commercial Bank, and under the guidance of a number of multinational coffee firms, it is about to re-enter the sector once again.
…continue reading Doubts once again circle the Kenya Planters Cooperative Union
Kenyan Governor wants to cut out the coffee middlemen
Kenyan governors are pushing for the national government to permit them to sell coffee directly on the international market, bypassing numerous middlemen in the process.
It is hoped that if the request is passed, regional farmers will be able to see their profit levels increase which would benefit all involved with the local coffee industry.
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Kenya coffee output to increase
The Kenyans have a new strategy for improving their coffee sales. Although the world loves Kenyan coffee, during the late 1980s, there was something of a hiccup in output (falling by over 100,000 metric tons) as a result of inappropriate farm management practices and global price issues. Since then, a new plan is in place to improve matters.
The current published figures from the Nairobi Coffee Exchange suggest that the East African country intends to offer up to 19,000 bags of coffee at auction (50 kg bags that is). The auction is beginning once more after a break of over 2 months. When compared with the last auction in April 2011, the offering is impressive – at the auction earlier this year, there were only about 12,100 bags available. It is said that it was because of lower supplies, that there was an earlier than average break in sales this year.
Kenya has been working to try to help small-scale farmers improve their coffee techniques and increase the levels of production. One of the success areas is said to be the easterly region of Mureithi, an area now producing beans of a higher quality which will also go on sale tomorrow.
One of the managers at the Coffee Board of Kenya is reported to have suggested that Kenya has its hopes set high this year and may produce 40,000 tons of coffee this season. Apparently the country had an output of 45,000 tons in 2010.
Kenya’s new coffee strategies
Kenya is moving and shaking in the coffee world. Its brand is one that is loved the world over, but Kenya is not sitting on its laurels. It has many plans and strategies to keep its star rising.
In 2010, for example, The Coffee Board of Kenya launched a new brand of coffee for the country. It now wants to go further – it is calling for counties within Kenya to come up with their own coffee brands too, to carve out a place in the global coffee market.