By JAMES KILA
INFORMATION created by the Coffee Industry Corporation on plantations and block rehabilitation in the country has allegedly been extracted by certain groups and individuals for their own gain.
CIC board chairman, Pugma Kopi said this following media reports by certain so-called consultants, whom he claimed had sparked confusion and instability in the coffee industry.
The National reported a “national coffee consultant” Jacob Taru calling on owners of coffee blocks and plantations to register to participate in the National Coffee Plantation Rehabilitation Programme with funding assistance from the National Agriculture Development Plan (NADP).
Mr Taru’s programme was allegedly part of K100 million to revive the agriculture sector.
Mr Kopi stated boldly that consultants should not be side-tracking farmers and diverting the duty of the responsible authority namely the CIC.
Mr Kopi pointed out that CIC was a legitimate body mandated to control, regulate and safe-guard the nation’s coffee interest.
Moreover, the Government should not create another body when it cannot sustain an existing one like the CIC, which was created to facilitate such programmes.
According to Mr Kopi, Mr Taru had done the grouping of “clusters” but had failed the State, who will manage the funds when and if allocated.
Notably, selection criteria for the release of the funds must be established.
He also warned coffee industry stakeholders to be mindful of the excessive consultancy fees and also the sustainability of their project.
In the past many coffee plantation and block owners were left ‘high and dry’ with huge loans to many mainly because the management companies or so-called consultants led them to it.
Mr Kopi stated that under the CIC selection criteria for projects to be funded under the NADP, it proposed to the National Government that funds be released according to coffee blocks’ and plantations’ accessibility and the existence of reputable management organisations.
Mr Kopi also pointed out that road infrastructure was a vital link for the consistency of advisory and extension services to farmers, who are accessible by it.
“Handling funds to inaccessible farmer groups and that those lack reputable management would be a waste of money and the funds may not serve its purpose,” Mr Kopi said.