Kirinyaga coffee farmers threaten to boycott selling coffee sales over new directives

Farmers from the Rung'eto coffee cooperative society in Kirinyaga during an AGM/FILE

Coffee farmers from various cooperative societies in Kirinyaga County have threatened to withhold their coffee sales if the government compels them to adopt the new delegate system.

The Ministry of Co-operatives has instructed all large coffee co-operative societies to amend their laws and adopt a delegates system that will see about 500 farmers meet on behalf of farmers during general meetings.

The selection of delegates must reflect diversity that includes geographic distribution, gender equity, age diversity and include persons with disabilities to address challenges faced in convening the thousands of farmers for meetings.

But the farmers have rejected the directive, saying they want to be allowed to represent themselves and air their views during meetings.

Johan Njue from Rung’eto Co-operative Society said the government should focus on streamlining the services it renders to improve farmers’ returns.

He faulted the government saying it promised to waive debts incurred by coffee co-operative societies last year to no avail.

Payments delayed, he said, making it difficult for them to tend to their farms and subsidised fertilizers were disbursed too late.

“We struggled to raise money to harvest the coffee and support our families. We have a board that we elected and have faith in it. Let us be left to run our affairs,” he said.

The farmers have now threatened to take to the streets if the government will not heed to their demands and withdraw the directives.

Farmers from Karithathi co-operative society that is made up of Kii, Karimikui and Kiangoi factories who met during an annual general meeting, told their chairperson Joyce Wanjiku and her management team to inform the ministry that they will not be complying with the directive.

Jane Njeri, a farmer affiliated with Karithathi coffee co-operative society, during an annual general meeting/HANDOUT

“We have said no. Let the government stop forcing us to do things that we don’t want to do. This is our crop and if they persist, we will just stop selling it,” Gitau Chomba, a farmer, said.

 Chomba said the co-operative with over 8,000 members has been doing just fine regardless of the high membership, emphasising that Kirinyaga is leading in coffee production which he said indicates good governance in the sector.

 “Let our coffee stay in our stores and farms until the government leaves these issues alone,” he said amid cheers.

 He also castigated the decision by the government to pay farmers through M-pesa saying it will worsen alcoholism in coffee growing zones and push farmers’ households into poverty.

 The direct payments, he said, will make it more difficult for farmers to educate their children and develop themselves.

 “If you send money to our mobile phones every time we make a sale, many of us will just go to the shops and have a few drinks and the money will not help our families,” he said.

 Chomba said they are ready to hold on to their produce until Co-operatives Cabinet Secretary Wycliffe Oparanya stops the implementation of the new regulations and engage farmers directly.

 Oparanya had instructed the co-operative societies to forward farmers’ details to enable the direct payments through the Direct Settlement System (DSS) but farmers have warned their management committees against it.

 The directives were supposed to take effect on July 1 but have faced opposition with many farmers preferring to be paid through their co-operative societies through which they can access loans from financial institutions.

 “This is a ploy to weaken the co-operative movement and disadvantage small-holder coffee farmers who depend on it for inputs and loans,” he added.

 Jane Njeri said paying them using M-pesa will only foster conflicts in homes as they fight for the control of the money.

 “I have worked hard and I may want to buy a new dress but my husband may be having other plans with the money. That will not work,” she said.

 Rung'eto cooperative society management committee said it will stand with farmers' decisions and will not implement the directives until farmers are satisfied with new laws.