Thiriku Farmer Cooperative Society

The story

The Thiriku Farmer Cooperative Society was established in 2000 following its separation from a larger union. It operates as a single mill located in Nyeri County at the base of the Aberdare Mountain Range. The cooperative supports over 1,000 smallholder farming members.

Challenges

Smallholder producers in the region have historically faced financial instability due to low productivity, high lending rates, and widespread corruption within the supply chain.

Innovations

The cooperative utilizes a water-efficient Penagos ecopulper, which is designed to be both cost-effective and environmentally friendly. They have also implemented a rigorous cherry sorting process to ensure quality control.