KIRINYAGA COFFEE FARMERS Raise Alarm Over RISING THEFT OF RIPE COFFEE CHERRIES
Coffee farmers in Kirinyaga County are raising the alarm over a surge in theft of ripe coffee cherries, causing significant financial losses and concern among the farming community.
The thefts have reportedly been occurring at night or when farmers are away from their farms, with suspicions that organized coffee cartels may be behind the incidents.
The most affected areas are Kirinyaga Central and Gichugu constituencies, where farmers have found their coffee cherries stripped overnight.
For instance, in Kiamuruga Village, Ndimi Location, over 500 coffee stems were reported harvested by thieves in a single night, devastating affected farmers like Joyce Kiragu, who expressed shock and deep financial losses.
“I went to the farm with my grandson to harvest, but I was shocked to find that all the cherries had been harvested the previous night. I have incurred a huge financial loss,” Mrs. Kiragu said.
The thieves are believed to sell the stolen cherries to private millers who purchase produce in cash.
Farmers are now urging security agencies to increase patrols and intervene urgently to stop the escalating theft.
They also call for a crackdown on coffee brokers suspected of being involved in the illicit trade of stolen coffee produce.
This rise in theft is occurring even as Kirinyaga County experiences a revival in coffee farming, supported by government reforms aimed at boosting payouts and dismantling exploitative cartels.
The theft challenges threaten to undermine the gains made by farmers under these reforms.
Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru and other officials have been engaged in consultations with stakeholders to ensure the sector’s stability and to address issues such as payment systems and farmer welfare.
However, the growing insecurity on farms represents a pressing challenge for the vibrant coffee-growing region known for its premium quality produce.
The farming community remains hopeful that increased security measures and collaboration between government agencies will curb the theft menace and protect farmers’ livelihoods, enabling them to fully benefit from their hard work and the improved coffee sector reforms