The decline in coffee earnings has contributed to low productivity in what was once Kenya's 'black gold'. Coffee berry diseases, leaf rust, leached soils, high input and marketing costs has made Kenyan farmers to invest less in this sector. Political interference has virtually rendered the producers of this vital commodity helpless.
Kenya is known for its fine quality coffees, the majority being the Mild Arabica with 60% produced by small holders and 40% by estates. Kenyan farmers are grappling daily with the imbalance that makes it difficult to afford the finished product of what they produce and earn a fair income. The news of a flooded coffee market spells doom to local farmers. Will the destruction of 5 million bags in stock stimulate the market for this product?
