Input marketing, distribution and usage aspects in the Kenyan co-operative coffee sub-sector

This paper shows that a major input distribution network has been established through the co-operative system. Some 11 main and 60 minor companies supplied their inputs and posed a stiff competition amongst themselves in the co-operative coffee sub-sector. Between 1985/86 and 1986/87 the overall co-operative expenditure on inputs increased by 11 percent while the expenditure on ground fertilizers dropped by 32 percent. The expenditure of all the other input categories i.e foliar fertilizers, fungicides, insecticides and herbicides increased by 96, 110, 46 and 19 percent respectively. This was partly due to increased volumes purchased whereby foliar fertilizers, fungicides, insecticides and herbicides went up by 75, 163, 50 and 50 percent respectively. A ten percent price margin was found to reflect the marketing efficiency. The presentation also shows the results of the farmers input usage across the districts in relation to their respective mature coffee areas