A new “mega warehouse” being built in Kirinyaga County, Kenya, is expected to benefit around 120,000 local coffee farmers. The facility, located north of Nairobi, will be able to store up to 40,000 bags of parchment coffee.
The Kirinyaga County Government is leading the construction, aiming to help farmers better store their harvests and market their coffee directly at auctions.
Local farmers sell their coffee through the Kirinyaga Slopes Coffee Brokerage Company, which represents 14 cooperative societies in the area. The company operates under the Kirinyaga County Cooperative Union.
Geoffrey Kinyua, Chairman of the Cooperative Union, said the warehouse is urgently needed to handle the county’s rising coffee production.
“Last year, we produced about 42,000 tonnes of cherry. We expect that to grow to 60,000 tonnes, which the old warehouse can’t support,” Kinyua explained.
The new warehouse is set to be completed by the end of the year. It will measure 22 by 50 meters and include cyclones for proper ventilation, helping to preserve the coffee quality.
Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru said the facility will give farmers more control over sales and help them earn more from their coffee crops.
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