The government has launched an upgraded system that enables coffee growers to monitor coffee auction from the Nairobi Coffee Exchange (NCE) on large screens at the counties that stream the auctions live enhancing transparency.
This is the first time the technology is adopted in the coffee sector following recommendations by a special-task-force appointed by the president in March 2016 to look into ways the sector can be improved to better the lives of farmers.
“Millers, marketers and middlemen should e aware that the government will persistently pursue reforms to weed out rogue traders who have been impoverishing farmers,” said Agriculture CS Mwangi Kiunjuri during the launched of the system at Nyeri Farmers Co-operative Union where farmers had their first experience with the system.
The move is also meant to demystify beliefs surrounding the coffee auction, speed up sales and bring transparency to the sector.
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The CS also launched the Kenya Coffee Platform, which brings together stakeholders to address issues affecting the sub-sector.
“We hope the forum will design ways to help Kenya raise crop production from 40,000 tonnes to 100,000 tonnes by 2022. Then it will have played its intended role,” said Kiunjuri.
NCE has installedmonitors in Nyeri and Kericho counties in line with the special-task-force proposed reforms in the sector.
