Coffee board seeks to remain key in sector

By BONIFACE GIKANDI

Kenya: The Coffee Board of Kenya (CBK) has insisted it must remain the apex body in the subsector even as the devolution of agriculture takes effect.

Managing Director Isabella Nkonge told coffee farmers’ leaders in Murang’a County that there was increased conflict of interest between the devolved government and the board over changes brought about by devolution.

Calling for partnership among all stakeholders, Ms Nkonge said they had proposed that county governments undertake roles of licensing planters, facilitating importation of farm inputs and dealing with illegal trading at the farm level.

The roles of coffee movement permits, commercial millers, exports and marketing should continue to be handled by the coffee board.

Some county leaders have been rooting for the dissolution of the board, arguing that county governments can execute the roles it is currently handling.

Nkonge said county laws controlling the sector should be harmonised to ensure they do not contravene national laws.

Conflicting rules

She said some counties risked drafting conflicting rules and regulations.

Murang’a County Director of Agriculture Daniel Gitahi said the county government’s key focus was to increase coffee production.

He said a four-year coffee recovery programme aims at distributing more than 10 million coffee seedlings.

“We are committed to increasing production and providing reliable extension services to farmers,” said Gitahi.