NANYUKI, Kenya, Jan 6 – Plans are underway to supply coffee farmers with farm inputs in bid to increase production, Cabinet Secretary for Cooperatives, Micro and Small Enterprise Simon Chelugui has said.
The CS said that the government target to increase coffee production from 37.5 metric tonnes to 60 metric tonnes.
Chelugui stated that Kenya’s stand to benefit Sh150 billion in foreign currency earning from coffee sales.
“As a ministry, we have set ourselves a target to improve coffee production in this country through extension services in partnership with the agriculture ministry and promotion of good prices abroad so that we can give farmers value for money,” said the CS, adding that the ultimate goal is to produce 140 metric tonnes annually.
Furthermore, he said that the government is keen on stabilizing animal feeds to increase current insufficient milk production in the country..
“Currently, Kenya produces and processes 1.5 million litres of milk which is not enough to serve our needs and that is why we have some inputs across the region and abroad,” said Chelugui.
He revealed the government will be touring Ethiopia and Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to establish a new market for milk from the country.
“KCC and other milk processors are running at 50 percent, we have huge capacity, we have invested heavily in KCC and we can handle more than that. We are looking for markets outside and this way, we will be able to give farmers better prices,” said the CS.
He further pointed out that the government will also utilize idle lands in housing projects and address housing crises in the country.
For the Hustler fund initiative, the CS revealed that by Thursday, the government had disbursed Sh13.34 billion and the amount saved was over Sh650 million.
“We have disbursed this money to 17.4 million Kenyans and we have received in repayment sh.5.5 billion and number of transactions are over 22 million. We believe Kenyans are borrowing and utilizing this fund and it is addressing the basic needs of many Kenyans who were locked in by digital lenders,” said Chelugui.
Meanwhile, the retreat that kicked off today is expected to conclude on Sunday with a range of issues from health care, security, food security among others things.
President William Ruto and His Deputy are among the dignitaries attending the retreat, which will be the first meeting of Cabinet secretaries and other top government officials since last year’s general election.
