A coffee farmer inspects her crops. [Photo: farming kenya]
Small-scale coffee farmers from Kiambu County earned the highest price of the premium grade coffee offered for sale during this week Nairobi Coffee Exchange (NCE).
Market reports from the NCE reveal that small-scale farmers from Gititu farmers coffee society of Kiambu county earned the highest price this year of Kshs 51, 655 (US$502) per 50-kilogram bag of Grade AA of Arabica beans.
Last month NCE chief executive officer Daniel Mbithi had indicated that prices are likely to go up to the end of the year following supply of quality beans from the Mt. Kenya region. The society sold 70 bags of clean beans through their marketing agency Sasini Limited Company.
Sasini Company General Manager In charge of Coffee Operations James Muriithi explained that the Gititu grade AA fetched the highest price ever this year beating other societies that offered the same grade. This translates to kSh1,033 or US$10.04 per kg.
Muriithi explained that various factors contributed to the achievement of the exciting prices including observation of good agricultural practices and hard work by the farmers.
“The coffee which was milled and marked by Sasini limited was classified as the highest quality in all grades. The impressive price was achieved following rigorous and aggressive training of farmers. Equally, the inspiring price is further attributable to the good working relationship between the society management committee and officers from Sasini Company,” said Muriithi.