Kii Factory

The story

The Kii Factory was constructed in 1995 at the foot of Mt. Kenya to provide local smallholder farmers with a dedicated facility for processing coffee. It operates under the Rungeto Farmers Cooperative Society, which was formed in 1997 following the reorganization of the Ngiriama cooperative. The region has a long history of coffee cultivation dating back to 1953, with the factory named after the nearby Kii River.

Challenges

The cooperative has navigated significant structural changes, including a complete reorganization of its cooperative society. Farmers also manage small plots of land, often less than one hectare, while balancing coffee production with other mixed farming activities.

Innovations

The factory has implemented sustainable infrastructure improvements, including water recycling systems, composting, and tiled processing channels. They also employ strict quality control measures, such as separating under-ripe and over-ripe cherries, and utilize agronomists to provide guidance to member farmers.