Coffee Value Chain Project

 

 
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Background

Ufadhili’s coffee project is domiciled within the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Programme. The project aims at addressing historical and economic social injustice faced by small scale coffee farmers along the value chain by encouraging socially responsible practices by all stakeholders within the sector. It aims at ensuring the long-term sustainability of the sector through responsible value chain management. Ufadhili Trust carried out a research in 2007 to evaluate the initiatives within the coffee value chain in the East African Region. The study identified and exposed critical to gaps that exist in the coffee industry. This research resulted to a report booklet titled ‘Evaluating Coffee Value Chains:  Case Studies of Selected Coffee Value Chain Initiatives in East Africa’.

As a follow up to the study, the coffee project was born. The project aims to address the gaps within the value chain on a CSR perspective.Ufadhili aims at strengthening the value chain initiatives to fight poverty through 3Cs Methodology:
Convening
One of the gaps identified in the study is lack of representation of smallholder farmers at national and regional levels. The farmers have been marginalised at the market and policy making processes. Ufadhili purposes to strengthen the influence of the farmers through a National and Regional Associations. In Uganda and Kenya efforts have been made to develop such associations and Ufadhili would like to strengthen these nascent institutions so that they can become viable and effective players within the value chain.
Connecting
Ufadhili Trust seeks strategic linkages to other stakeholders including businesses, business associations, development agencies, government and educational institutions. These linkages will be strategic and value adding, so as to enhance the benefits to small holder farmers. Through these linkages, it is hoped that critical markets and information will be accessed for the benefit of the smallholder farmers. These will offer great benefits to smallholder farmers and are important allies in improving the benefits to farmers. The regional and national platforms are expected to develop common positions on any linkage opportunities that may arise, with the smallholder farmers being the key beneficiaries
Capacity Development
Ufadhili Trust will also offer technical support to the regional and national associations such as Kenya Coffee Growers Association (KCGA), as well as, to member institutions. This support will include business development support to entrench a culture of entrepreneurship, provision of information to deal with the information asymmetry that often entrenches exploitation, peer learning opportunities to learn from best practice players such as Kilimanjaro Coffee Association and Farm Enterprise (KILICAFE), National Union of Coffee Agribusiness and Farm Enterprise) NUCAFE of Uganda and training on lobbying and advocacy.
Project activities
  • Training
  • Lobbying and advocacy
  • Peer learning
  • Information sharing
  • Research
  • Technical support to farmers associations
  • Creating strategic linkages
  • Regional meetings to learn network and develop a common voice
Geographic area and target groups
The project covers the three East African countries of Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania. The project aim is to organize smallholder farmers within the region so as to strengthen their ability to influence policies and markets. It aims to give them a voice within the value chain and skills to play the business game effectively.
Key achievements
  • The following are some of the things that have been accomplished regarding the coffee sector.
  • The organization commissioned a research on the coffee sector within the East Africa Region in 2007 and published a booklet titled ‘Evaluating Coffee Value Chains: Case Studies of Selected Coffee Value Chain Initiatives in East Africa.’
  • The organization held two successful Conferences for Coffee sector Stake holder’s in East Africa. The first was a National Coffee Stake holder’s conference on 14th March 2008 and second a Regional Coffee Stake holder’s Conference on the 19th of November 2008.
    Supported 5 coffee farmers; 2 from Tanzania (KILICAFE) and 3 from Kenya to attend Uganda National Coffee conference and as an exchange programme to learn about the farmer ownership coffee model NUCAFE (National Union of Coffee Agribusiness and Farm Enterprises).
  • Through a partnership with Kenya Coffee Producers Association (KCPA) formerly Kenya Coffee Growers Association (KCGA); the voice of coffee farmers in Kenya
Ufadhili has supported KCPA on a number of things:
  •  Supporting KCPA participation in coffee exhibitions organized by Meru Central Farmers Association/ Technoserve Kenya in Meru on the 5th December, 2008.
  • Facilitating KCPA officials to travel to Othaya Farmers Cooperative Society in Nyeri district; Muroki Cooperative Society and Nakoyonjo cooperative societies in Tranzoia district on the 25th, 26th  and 27th November 2008. The purpose of the visits was to disseminate information to the societies who are members of KCPA on the new and direct marketing channel dubbed ‘the second window’ through e-fresh.com.  Through this channel, farmers can sell their coffee (and other commodities) without using brokers or agents.
  • Training of 28 members of the committee/management of 9 coffee societies who are members of KCGA on strengthening governance on 16th December, 2008 These societies are engaged in a pilot project of direct coffee marketing through e-fresh.com
  • Supporting KCPA to participate in Ruiru Coffee Fair organized by East Africa Fine Coffee Association (EAFCA) on 30th -31st January, 2009.
  • Facilitated a special general meeting for KCGA that passed a resolution for a merger with KCGEA to form KCPA on 4th March, 2009.
  • Training the management committee members of Kikima and Kakuyuni Farmers Co-operative societies on strengthening governance held on 7th May, 2009.
  • Training on strengthening governance to the management committee members of 6 Farmers Cooperative Societies namely; Kamacharia, Gaturi, Kiiru, Kanguno, Rwaitamba and New Kiriti on13th of May 2009. In attendance were the District Cooperative Officers (DCO) for Muranga and Mathioya districts.
  • Participating in the countrywide membership recruitment program for KCPA in May and June 2009.
 
Reports:
Organic Coffee Assessment Report-Ranchonyo District
 

Quote
 
"PEOPLE GO INTO BUSINESS TO DO WELL
BUT STAY IN BUSINESS TO DO GOOD"

Mahatma Gandhi             
 

  
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