The County Government of Uasin Gishu in partnership with the New Kenya Planters Cooperative Union (KPCU) has rollout out an initiative that will see coffee farmers trained on a number of aspects.
County Coffee Officer Nicholas Maritim says the training that started last week is targeting at least 800 farmers aligned with Coffee Cooperative societies.
Speaking during training for Coffee farmers from Soy Sub County, Maritim said among the areas farmers are being educated on is the production of quality cherries and marketing of the coffee.
The County Official also affirmed their commitment to support coffee farmers whom he challenged to always seek help from extension officers.
“The program is running smoothly and we appreciate the support from the new KPCU,” said Maritim.
On his part, New KPCU Officer Moses Wanduasi said aside from marketing the coffee, they are also training farmers on Coffee Cherry Revolving Fund.
The fund, Wanduasi said, was operationalized in 2020, and is aimed at providing financial support to the coffee farmers for their expenses such as school fees and the purchase of farm inputs as they await to sell their produce.
“We have farmers from Megun Ward who have benefited from the revolving fund and their coffee is ready to be sold,” he noted.
The training is still ongoing.
Coffee is among the cash crops that the county has been asking locals to plant so as to enhance their income.
Other crops that the previous Uasin Gishu administration asked farmers to plant include Macadamia, Tissue Bananas and Avocados.
