The youth have been challenged to embrace coffee farming because it is more profitable than the white collar job type of employment.
Tharaka Nithi governor Muthomi Njuki said many young people were going in search of elusive white collar jobs instead of venturing in the lucrative coffee farming.
Governor Njuki said the venture can completely resolve the issue of unemployment once and for all if the government makes it attractive through improved marketing and prices.
“Let us get the youth interested in farming by first and foremost fighting the drug and alcohol abuse menace amongst them. We want a productive workforce and not zombies. After this is achieved, we can embark on improving prices in order to make it attractive to engage in. They should also be involved in the planning process to make them feel that they hold the agenda,” said the governor.
During the coffee conference attended by Deputy president Rigathi Gachagua, Muthomi lamented that the sub sector is a multi billion income generating business that can create employment to millions of youths .
“We have learnt that one can make more than Sh.2.5 million per acre. This is a sure employment and that is why we are urging the youths to shift their mind to farming as well,” said Njuki .
The county boss said Kenyan coffee is very marketable globally adding that this has been killed by high demand against low supply .
According to the Kenyan statistics, 13.4 percent of Kenyans youths are jobless.
The Tharaka Nithi County boss said coffee was and still remains the most marketable commodity in the world with a popular saying about it “let us meet over a cup of tea” withstanding the test of time up to date.
He said the most important thing is for the farmers to have enough information on coffee marketing so that they can know where to sell their crop without being exploited.
Njuki said the real problem in coffee marketing starts between milling and marketing process with the cartels coming in to loot the profit meant for the farmers.
“It is unfortunate that cartels have taken over the profits meant for the farmers. Cartels from three organizations control the trade. The best solution is to ensure farmers have enough knowledge about coffee marketing in order to avoid being exploited by the cartels,” said the governor.
He said farmers should also ensure they have a direct access to the market noting this will enable them avoid going through brokers when selling their produce.
Njuki said it takes about a week to be licensed by the Nairobi Coffee Exchange at a friendly price and urged farmers to embrace the process in a bid to loot out cartels.
He called on both the county and national governments to make laws to assist farmers from the grassroot to marketing level.
