Ndaroini Factory

The story

The Ndaroini Factory was established in 1984 by a group of local producers in Karatina who sought to reduce the long travel distances required to deliver their coffee cherries. The name Ndaroini translates to 'place of rest' in Swahili. It is currently operated under the Gikanda Farmers' Cooperative Society, which was founded in 1996.

Challenges

Smallholder farmers face significant delays in payment, often receiving only 10% of their earnings upon delivery and the remainder months later. Additionally, producers manage very small plots of land, typically ranging from 0.1 to 0.3 hectares.

Innovations

The factory utilizes a unique local water spring source for processing, which provides a competitive advantage in quality. The cooperative has also invested heavily in infrastructure and resources to ensure precise processing standards.