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Kisii Coffee Thefts Worry Farmer Co-operatives

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Published on Wednesday, 12 October 2011 14:59

Coffee farmers in Kisii county yesterday asked the government to provide security to the coffee sector to save it from collapse. The farmers protested the increasing incidences of coffee stealing at cooperative societies. They said this is making societies lose heavily. "We can't afford losing our produce now and again. We want the government to assure us of security of our produce," the farmers said.

Speaking during a special general meeting at Nyansongo Farmers Cooperative Society in Sameta district, the growers faulted management committees of mismanaging the societies. Addressing the farmers, Public Works minister Chris Obure said wrangles among members of the management committees of coffee cooperative societies had disheartened farmers.

Citing his Bobasi constituency, Obure said because of persistent coffee theft, farmers have shunned growing the crop and have ended up poorer. "Bobasi constituency is doing badly than even Samburu and Turkana in terms of poverty index due to mismanagement of coffee," Obure said. He noted that those purporting to lead growers have never delivered coffee to the society in the last three years saying that they must lead by example.

Area District Cooperatives Officer Samwel Nyakangi called on management committees To desist from packing coffee beans into bags before the delivery date because this encouraged theft. Last month Cooperastives and Marketing ninister Joe Nyaga put those behind coffee theft on notice saying the government will not sit back and watch as the poor farmers is exploited.