Coffee farmers in Bungoma County have called upon the County government to consider securing subsidized fertiliser for them as they target improved yields. Speaking during an annual general meeting of farmers of Kikai Coffee Farmers Co-operative Society, the Farmers Sacco Chairman Josphat Makhanu said coffee farming also needs to be well catered for by the government as it can improve the County’s economy. He added that similar package of subsidized fertiliser as the one being distributed to maize farmers will be advantageous to the farmers who have struggled in the past to acquire the same product at inflated prices.
Mr. Makhanu added that coffee farming if taken seriously can be able to provide job opportunities to the youths, saying with the Co-operative societies in place, they can work in the various departments. On his part, the manager Patrick Masikini said they are working hard to improve on the output of the society saying farmers should also embrace modern technology in their farming activities. He further cautioned them against selling their yields to middlemen saying they only take advantage of them to reap where they haven’t sown. He said some of the middlemen even sell their produce to the farmers’ societies saying the farmers should be vigilant not to fall prey to the people who want to exploit them. Titus Wakoli, an official of the Society, challenged the farmers to also diversify their farming activities by engaging in the planting of other crops to enhance food security. He also said dairy farming can be a good supplement to coffee farming as they will take their milk to a Co-operative society initiated by the coffee Co-operative.
