Small scale farmers in Kericho County are improving their livelihoods thanks to Fintea Growers Co-operative Union’s well-coordinated efforts that are aimed at freeing them from poverty.
The union has objectively been organizing farmers into co-operative societies, organizing the processing of certification of the societies and accessing, maintaining and widening markets with a lot of success.
With these major achievements, the union has firmly placed itself as well-established, stable and with focused future.
The union, which covers Bomet and Kericho counties, is made up of five cooperative societies that include Chepcheb, Chesetekaa and Kapkap at Bomet County, and Ainamoi and Kokchaik in Kericho County.
Since its formation its membership of over 15,000 have recorded growth in their respective cooperative societies and at personal level.
Fintea Growers Co-operative Union was initially formed as a group in the year 2008 going by the name Finlay OutGrowers Group. The founders were small scale farmers from three areas namely Belgut, Ainamoi and Konoin who aimed at processing of excess tea which was then a big problem.
They approached James Finlay (Kenya) Limited and their request to process the excess green leaf was accepted giving birth to the registration of the five cooperative societies.
Through the push for unity in certification and marketing of tea, the union was registered under the then Ministry of Co-operative Development in 2012.
To help the formation, funding was sourced from British Government (DFID) through Frich Kibagenge Project comprising of six partners namely; Cooperative Group (UK, Cooperative College (UK), Finlay Beverages (UK), James Finlay (K) Ltd, Kenya Cooperative College and Africa Now.
The union has made notable achievements in marketing of tea, certification and diversification.
Through Bondet and Masingi marks, the union has been selling own manufactured tea on behalf of co-operative societies to European markets and through the Mombasa Auction In 2014, the union sold over 21 million kilos of green leaf.
In counties where a number of agricultural enterprises are viable, the union, through its co-operative societies, has upped efforts to help members diversify into other crops such as French beans, and garden peas among others rather than solely relying on tea growing.
This is done through the support of Finlay Horticulture which is the medium for supplying the produce to European markets.
In addition, to cushion members against income variability, the union has been keen in introducing several other agricultural activities such as poultry and dairy farming.
The union has also been vibrant in giving back to the community. Through premium funds received from fair trade sales, Fintea Union has undertaken a number of projects that have tremendously uplifted communities’ standards of living. Some of the projects include construction of classrooms and toilets in schools, construction of dispensaries and laboratories, medical supplies and environmental conservation.
For efficiency in delivering its services, the union has installed a state- of-the – art- ICT system making it easier for members to access reliable and timely information for quality decision making.
The union has plans to enhance value addition of farmers’ products and to aggressively market the tea to increase the market share in future. It also intends to partner with other stakeholders to provide cheap farm inputs to members.
Despite a number of challenges, the union has achieved much in creating employment, improving standards of living, increasing members’ income and community development among others.
This has been possible owing to prudent and visionary management and governance under the leadership of Chairman Mr. Eric Toweet.
Envisioned to be a modern world class marketing co-operative union, it has lived to its core objective of promoting the social-economic development of the members and community.
Fintea Union is certified on both Fair-trade as second grade producer organisation and Rainforest Alliance for the last four years thus securing markets and earning its premium funds.
The welfare of members is paramount at the union, a thing evidenced in its diversification programmes.
