Barichu Cooperative Society

The story

The Barichu Cooperative Society is a well-established organization in Nyeri County, Kenya, that aggregates coffee from multiple member factories, such as Karindundu, which was founded in 1985 and joined the cooperative in 1996. The cooperative serves thousands of smallholder farmers who cultivate coffee on small plots of land on the slopes of Mount Kenya. It functions as a central body for processing and supporting these individual smallholder members.

Challenges

Farmers face the inherent difficulties of managing small plots of land and rely on the cooperative for support to maintain production. The region is subject to climate-related variables that impact harvest timing and crop development.

Innovations

The cooperative provides its members with cash advances and training on sustainable coffee growing practices. They utilize a double-fermentation process at their washing stations to enhance the complexity and flavor profile of the coffee.