Embu: In a bid to revitalize the coffee sector in Embu, the County Government has channeled Sh. 28 million for infrastructural development to four coffee cooperative societies in the area. Each of the four, Kirimiri, Rianjagi, Kanjugu, and Muramuki received Sh. 7 million each towards modernization of their infrastructure that was channeled through the National Agricultural Value Chain Development Project (NAVCDP).
According to Kenya News Agency, the funds are set to support the construction of solar dryers, metallic drying beds, sorting sheds, improvement of fermentation tanks and installation of CCTV cameras among other key installations. Governor Cecily Mbarire, speaking while disbursing the cheques to the factories management in Embu Town on Tuesday, said these measures are aimed at improving production, reducing production costs and enhancing competitiveness of the sector through production of quality coffee.
Mbarire reported that previously they had supported eight factories and will continue with the modernization program of all the factories to improve production quality and quantity-wise. The governor said through their effort and also the national coffee reforms, farmers have witnessed an improvement in payout for last year’s crop with some factories reporting as high as Sh. 148 per kilo of cherry.
‘Unlike last year, no factory in Embu has reported less than Sh. 100 and the future looks promising for our farmers,’ she stated. She added that they will also extend similar initiatives towards milk and tea sectors that are also major economic activities in the county besides coffee.
One of the beneficiaries, New Kirimiri Factory Chair Patrick Njiru said the boost will assist them in improving efficiency and reducing post-harvest losses that have been associated with poor infrastructure. ‘The money we have been setting aside for development hasn’t been sufficient to enable us to improve the infrastructure and this donation has come in handy,’ he said.