Coffee market continued to favour the small scale and estate farmers as they this week earned Sh1.3 billion for the auction of 33,470 bags of coffee.
The returns are higher from those of the last week of Sh963 million after they sold 25,090 bags of the commodity through the Nairobi Coffee Exchange (NCE).
In the market, Ibero Kenya, a leading coffee buyer bought 71 bags of grade AA from Guama factory represented by Alliance Berries Limited at Sh65,500 per bag of 50 kilogrammes.
From the sale, Guama factory affiliated to Baragwi Farmers’ Cooperative Society in Kirinyaga County earned Sh4.6 million for its premier quality of the commodity.
Karimikui society represented by Kirinyaga slopes emerged the second best in payment after its 59 bags of AA in the auction were bought each at Sh63,142($482) taking home Sh3.7 million.
NCE acting Chief Executive Officer Ms Lisper Ndung’u said Alliance Berries Limited presented 8,562 bags that were bought at Sh383.4 million ($2,926,899.6 6), followed by Kirinyaga Slopes with 8,379 bags at Sh327.1 ($2,497,641.5 4) and NKPCU 6,692 bags that fetched Sh280.4 million ($2,141,083.3 0).
In the auction 68 percent of the deliveries were premier grades of AA and AB that fetched better returns.
” Nine marketing agents participated out of the licensed 15, an indication that farmers in cooperatives and estates have trust in the auction system,” said Ms Ndung’u.
Kigumo MP Joseph Munyoro said Coffee Tea Parliamentary Association (COTEPA) was excited over the participation of the farmers in the auction market.
” We are calling on farmers to concentrate on nurturing their coffee trees during this rainy season, focusing on increasing production of the commodity,” said Munyoro.
Kenya Coffee Producers Association Chairman Peter Gikonyo called on their growers to nurture their coffee trees to help access the better market.
” The buyers are interested in a specific taste, and they can spend any amount to get the best for their market,” said Gikonyo.