Wanjengi Coffee Factory: Murang’a Coffee Cooperatives will benefit from a benchmarking program with successful cooperatives in Nyeri and Kirinyaga Counties. This program will see the 44 coffee cooperatives in Murang’a benefit from mentor cooperatives, fully funded by Irungu Nyakera Foundation, in collaboration with “Coffee Campus”, a learning platform that organizes learning programs for the coffee sector, and supported by Kenya Coffee & Tea Lobby.
The benchmarking program dubbed “ Kahawa Boost “ is focused on helping Muranga County reclaim its national position as a leading coffee producing county, that can contribute over Ksh.10 billion to the county.
The program will see farmers increase production per tree to at least 10 Kilos, and grow cooperative total cherry volumes to at least 1 million kilos. The program launched at Wanjengi Coffee Factory to continue through the week to benefit, Wahundura, SabaSaba, Kinogerama, Kabati, Njora, and, Kanyenyaini coffee cooperatives in Muranga County.
The cooperatives will also learn alternative income generation options, learn factory management and agronomy best practices, and network with successful factories. Irungu Nyakera Foundation has been supporting coffee cooperatives in Muranga County with metallic drying beds and seedlings in preparation for the growth of coffee production. The program targeting 144 coffee factories was launched in November 2021 and has already benefitted 48 factories across the county.
The Kenya Coffee & Tea lobby urges the fast-tracking of the coffee sector reforms, which will remove the conflict of interest and lack of governance in the sector, assure farmers of guaranteed minimum returns, streamline the running of coffee cooperatives and increase the investment in the coffee sector by National and County Government.
