Nairobi: Coffee farmers have achieved significant earnings at the Nairobi Coffee Exchange (NCE) auction, totaling Sh397 million from the sale of 9,826 bags, facilitated by nine brokers. According to Kenya News Agency, the earnings reflected an increase of approximately Sh20 million compared to the previous week's auction, where farmers associated with various cooperative societies and estates earned Sh370 million. Leading the brokers was New KPCU, which presented the largest quantity of bags, selling 3,457 bags for Sh140.13 million. Alliance Berries Ltd and Kirinyaga Slopes Coffee Brokerage Company followed with 2,446 bags sold for Sh103.7 million and 978 bags for Sh39.29 million, respectively. Other brokers included Meru County Coffee Marketing Agency, United Eastern Coffee Marketing Ltd, Kipkelion Company, KCCE Marketing Agency, and Murang'a Coffee Dealers Company. Premier coffee grades of AA and AB constituted 5,791 bags, accounting for 59 percent of the total volume traded. Munani Coffee Factory, affili ated with Mikumbune Cooperative Society of Meru, achieved the highest price, trading six bags of grade AA at Sh42,054 per bag. Silwet Coffee Estate secured the second-best price at Sh41,667 per bag of grade AA, selling through New KPCU. The auction saw participation from fourteen international and local buyers, with Louis Dreyfus Company purchasing the highest volume of 1,918 bags for Sh73.67 million. Ibero Kenya Ltd and C. Dorman Ltd followed, buying 1,811 bags for Sh61.6 million and 1,312 bags for Sh56.6 million, respectively. BEKAS Systems Ltd made the smallest purchase, acquiring three bags, equivalent to 243 kilos of grade AB, from Mwanga Coffee Factory for Sh11,339. Stakeholders in the coffee sector continue to encourage farmers to focus on producing quality coffee, which commands better prices, particularly from international buyers. NCE Chief Executive Officer Lisper Ndung'u has urged leaders of cooperative societies to assist farmers in enhancing coffee quality. Last month, the government began di stributing subsidized NPK fertilizer to coffee farmers to boost production. Kenya Coffee Producers Association (KCPA) Chairman Peter Gikonyo has called for expedited distribution of the subsidized fertilizers, sold at Sh2,500 per 50-kilo sack, to enable increased coffee production. Gikonyo emphasized the importance of farmer training, noting that growers attending training sessions produce high-quality grades sought after by both local and international buyers.