Thunguri Co Op

KIBIRIGWI FARMERS COOPERATIVE SOCIETY LIMITED

Historical Background:

Farmers in Kibirigwi planted their first coffee trees in 1953.  The Co-operative Society has 8 wet mills namely Ragati, Ngugu-ini, Mukangu,Kiangai, Kibingoti, Thunguri, Kianjege and Chema. The Coop is located within Kiine location, Ndia division, Kirinyaga West Sub-County  on the Southern slopes of Mount Kenya.

Management & Membership:

Kibirigwi Co-operative Society LTD is managed by an elected Board of Directors of 9 members, one elected from each factory catchment. Each member   represents an electrol zone in the larger Kiine Location . There is a Supervisory comittee of three elected members who carry out oversight functions over the Board.  Currently the Co-operative has 58 permanent  members of staff who are headed by a Secretary Manager. The Secretary Manager  oversees the day to day running of the Co-operative under the supervision of the Board.

The 8 Wet mills in the co-operative have a membership  of 7552 active  farmers.

Coffee Production:

The Co-operative is currently producing an average of 4.5 million Kg Cherry.  The production for the last 3 years was as follows in kg cherry;

Coffee Processing and Marketing:

Farmers selectively hand pick red ripe cherries  that are delivered for wet milling on the same day. The parchment is then fermented, washed and sun dried . Dry parchment is milled and bagged at Sagana coffee mills and then transported to – warehouses. The Coffee is then sold through the Nairobi auction.