NAIROBI, May 21 (Xinhua) -- Kenya's coffee production is set to improve once proposed reforms are fully implemented, an official said on Tuesday.
Joseph Kieyah, chairman of state-funded Coffee Sub-sector Implementation Committee (CSIC), said coffee cherry output per tree is expected to increase from the current two kilograms to eight kilograms.
"The increase is expected to push national production to 100,000 metric tons in the medium term from the current 40,000 metric tons," Kieyah told journalists.
Kieyah attributed the low production to inefficiency of the value chain that has led to current prices demoralizing small-scale farmers.
Coffee production is currently oscillating between 40,000 metric tons and 50,000 metric tons, compared to about 130,000 metric tons produced in 1987/88 coffee year, he said.
"Area under coffee has for the two decades dropped to 114,500 hectares from 170,000 hectares, a factor that has also contributed to decrease in production," Kieyah added.
A 3-billion-shilling (30 million U.S. dollars) coffee cherry revolving fund was recently announced by President Uhuru Kenyatta to help coffee farmers secure loans at an interest rate of 3 percent, he said.
The scheme will start from July.
Kieyah said his committee is determined to provide such inputs as fertilizers and other agronomy support to help the farmers raise production and shield against price fluctuations on the global market.
The government is aware of the declining prices both locally and internationally and is working on strategies to cushion growers against the effects, he said.
"We are pursuing the publication of new general and coffee exchange regulations, intensive marketing of Kenya coffee and audit of coffee farmers' cooperative societies," Kieyah said.
