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| Archive News from Ndumberi Co-operative Coffee Improvement Project - May 2006 |
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Both the farmers and the co-operative management committee members are excited over the news that FOUR SQUARE have agreed to assist them in the rehabilitation of the co-op’s wet mills namely Riabai, Ngaita and Ndumberi.
On their part the farmers have vowed to reciprocate this gesture by doubling their efforts in coffee production, thereby ensuring that FOUR SQUARE and its consumers will continue to enjoy a steady supply of the best Kenyan coffee. |
| 'From the time our co-operative was started in early 1960s, I have never witnessed a buyer who pays good prices for our coffee and at the same time commits huge amounts of money to improve coffee production in the co-operative. This move by FOUR SQUARE is unprecedented', says Mr Raymond Gitau, the Chairman of Ndumberi Co-operative Society. |
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| The rehabilitation work in the wet mills has started. The work is planned such that it will interfere as little as possible with the pulping of cherry, which has just started and is expected to continue up to late July. Priority has been given to Riabai wet mill, which is located slightly lower in altitude, and therefore receives most of the early crop coffee that matures sooner. |
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| The sub committee on the proposed Ndumberi Health clinic will meet on 13th June to deliberate further on the proposal. |
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| The crop estimate for the co-op now stands at 1.3 Million Kg Cherry. Some CBD (Coffee Berry Disease) incidences have contributed to a lowering of the crop estimate. Out of this 30% is expected to be early crop (June - July harvest) and 70% to be late crop (October - December harvest). The coffee berries on the trees are maturing well thanks to the good rains received this year after a long dry spell, which started at the end of last year. The quality of the coffee is therefore expected to improve at the farm level and be sustained at the newly refurbished wet mills. |
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| The Utz Project is in high gear. Farmers are attending a series of village education meetings and seminars sponsored by Coffee Support Network and the World Bank. By funding the rehabilitation of the wet mills, the FOUR SQUARE coffee improvement project will go a long way to assist the co-op in achieving Utz certification and thereafter earn premiums on coffee that is sold under the Utz Kapeh label. The co-op anticipates to undergo an Utz verification / audit in early July and to get the certification later in the month. |
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Ndumberi farmers' morale is at a peak after a decade of falling prices and low interest in coffee farming. 'With a partner like FOUR SQUARE, we can see some light at the end of the tunnel in our coffee business' says Joyce Mwihaki, a retired primary school teacher and a coffee farmer from Ngaita wet mill. |
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| We provide regular newsletters on our projects in Kenya. Read recent and archive news from the Ndumberi Co-operative Coffee Improvement Project. |
| » Read the current news from Ndumberi |
| » More archive newsletters from Ndumberi |
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