Expert Urges Reforms to Curb Coffee Theft and Boost Farmer Earnings
Peter Githinji Njuki alias Githinji Tropical when he was hosted by Inooro TV morning show host Kamau Wa Kang'ethe. Photo/Courtesy.
By Charles Kinyua
A coffee expert has called on both national and county governments to implement measures aimed at eliminating the theft of cherry and parchment coffee, which continues to undermine farmers’ incomes and the broader coffee value chain.
Speaking on the TV morning show Inooro Ruciini, coffee expert Peter Githinji Njuki, popularly known as Githinji Tropical, emphasized that strengthening cooperative societies and banning the hawking of coffee were critical steps toward eradicating theft. He also urged the government to streamline the coffee value chain to ensure that farmers receive fair returns for their labor.
“Coffee, being the third-largest foreign exchange earner and a key pillar of the national economy, requires concerted attention for the benefit of both farmers and the country,” Githinji stated. With over 25 years of experience in the sector and as head of Alliance Berries Ltd, the largest coffee marketing agency in Kenya, he assured farmers of potentially record payments in the current season.
Currently, clean coffee is averaging USD 8 per kilogram at auction, translating to about Ksh 150 per kilogram of cherry delivered to factories—an achievement historically reached by only a few cooperative societies. However, Githinji stressed the importance of improving both quality and quantity, noting a market shortage of high-grade coffee that has disappointed potential buyers. He cited an example where a buyer was willing to pay USD 800 for a 50kg bag, equivalenti to over Ksh 290 per kilogram of cherry, but the produce did not meet the required standards.
Githinji encouraged farmers to view coffee farming as a profitable business, pointing out that producing a kilogram of cherry costs approximately Ksh 23, making it a viable and lucrative venture if managed properly. He stressed that quality production not only enhances farmer earnings but also strengthens Kenya’s position in the international coffee market.
On the topic of a recent High Court ruling allowing direct payments to farmers that bypass cooperative societies, Githinji warned that alienating cooperatives could be detrimental to the farmers themselves, as these societies play a vital role in aggregation, marketing, and quality assurance.
In conclusion, Githinji’s recommendations focus on addressing coffee theft, improving production standards, and reinforcing cooperative structures. If implemented, these measures could significantly boost farmer incomes, ensure Kenya retains its competitive edge in the global coffee market, and strengthen coffee’s contribution to national foreign exchange earnings.
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