World Bank to support coffee

Coffee Industry Corporation chief executive officer Ricky Mitio has called on all industry stakeholders to face the realities of social and economic decisions they make to advance the industry.
Mr Mitio made the call at a recent meeting with World Bank representatives who were in the country to gauge the view of coffee stakeholders.
The meeting included coffee farmers, processors, exporters, donor partners and government officials.
The bank is looking at opportunities to invest in the cocoa and coffee industries.
After financing oil palm, the bank believes that these industries involve smallholder growers; therefore, its support would have a huge impact on rural livelihoods.
The meeting was timely as CIC is unpacking its three key pillars in the strategic plan which was launched in 2008.
The review of the plan includes realigning programmes and projects so that they are outcome-based.
The CIC will consider and include programs that the World Bank proposes as part of the review.
However, Mr Mitio cautioned that contributions of partners, especially donors, must synergise and were not duplicated so that resources including finance were meaningfully deployed towards targeted programmes of the National Agriculture Development Programme.
“It also allows for priorities of the coffee industry to take precedence over those with pre-occupied negative interests,” he said.
“In addition, these interventions must be consistent with the government development agenda.
“Stakeholders need to communicate and forge strategic partnerships and use the opportunities presented by the National Agricultural Development Plan and other donor agencies.”
Mr Mitio said there was a need to conduct socio-economic studies to ascertain grower behavior so that services and incentives were tailored and relevant to their needs and aspirations.
“More so, interventions pursued must be context-based,” he said.
“The industry is blessed with experiences which can be used to foster and advance the sector using innovative approaches.”