- New European Union rules are aimed at protecting dwindling forests are reordering how the world gets its coffee.
- Ngone emphasised that potential exclusion from EU markets could lead to market access loss.
Image: HANDOUT
The National Coffee Cooperative Union (NACCU) has called for wider consultation in the coffee sub-sector in the wake of new European Union rules and a proposed coffee law.
NACCU, an umbrella organisation for 17 coffee unions representing 1.2 million small-scale coffee growers, called for collaboration among stakeholders to find common ground.
"We must advocate for regulations that not only address environmental concerns but also protect our livelihoods," said NACC chairman Francis Ngone.
Addressing a press conference in Nairobi, Ngone said NACCU was prepared to work alongside the government to identify amendments that would support the development of the coffee sector while safeguarding the interests of its farmers.
NACCU officials had convened to discuss the implications of the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) and the proposed amendments in the Coffee Bill (Senate Bill No. 10 of 2023.)
New European Union rules aimed at protecting dwindling forests are reordering how the world gets its coffee.
The rules require companies to provide more detailed evidence that the coffee they sell is not linked to deforestation.
EUDR will outlaw sales of products like coffee from December 30, 2024, if companies can't prove they are not linked with deforestation.
On the other hand, the Coffee Bill seeks to provide for the development and regulation of the coffee industry in Kenya.
The Bill proposes to reorganise the coffee industry by transitioning the regulatory and commercial roles currently undertaken by the Agriculture and Food Authority to the Coffee Board of Kenya.
Ngone said recent developments created an atmosphere of uncertainty and concern.
Ngone emphasised that potential exclusion from EU markets could lead to market access loss, price depression, and increased poverty among coffee growers.
“Together, we can navigate these turbulent waters and emerge stronger," he declared.
NACCU, which produces approximately 70 per cent of Kenya's coffee, has always been a pillar of support for local farmers.
Ngone noted that the Bill presented a significant step toward legal reforms in the coffee sector, aimed at modernizing regulations and improving trading practices.
However, as Ngone outlined, certain proposed amendments raised alarms.
"These changes could lead to what I call 'rude non-compliance' among our growers," he warned, highlighting the disconnect between policymakers and the realities faced by farmers.