Farmers who supply their coffee to Murang’a Cooperative Union are set to benefit from minimum guaranteed price for cherry delivered from October this year. The Union has announced it will set Sh. 70 as minimum price for every kilo of cherry supplied to the milling plant. All the 144 coffee factories within Murang’a County are affiliated to the Union which is currently in process to relocate its milling plant from Maragua town to its farm at Ikundu area. On Friday, Governor Mwangi wa Iria commissioned construction of the new mill saying the new facility will assist in increasing coffee prices thus better returns to farmers.
The new milling plant which is set to be operational by November, will help farmers enjoy minimum guaranteed price for coffee delivered as well as access subsidized farms inputs. He further said debts associated with the union should not bar farmers from getting better prices arguing that the old debts need to be audited before arrangements are made for their repayment.
From next rain season, farmers affiliated to the union will be issued with best coffee variety with aim of increasing production.
The Union’s Chairman Mr. Francis Ngone assured farmers that the construction will be hasten and by end of November this year, calling upon affiliated cooperative societies to audit their debts and present reports to the Union for appreciate assistance.