KNCU Home of fair trade

Kilimanjaro Native Cooperative Union (1984) Ltd has been a certified member of Fair Trade Labeling Organization (FTLO) since 1993, selling forty percent of its coffee to Fair Trade market.

In the first phase of training that has been conducted to Executive members of 68 Primary Cooperative Societies, farmers have been emphasized to produce high quality coffee that can ensure market within Fair Trade. The Major objective of the training was to familiarize the concept of Fair Trade to KNCU small scale producers. Apart from that they were also trained on various issues relating to soil fertilization, soil, water and environmental conservation, management and safe disposal of pesticides, capacity building to members of boards to enable

them read and understand financial reports of their societies and the role of board members and secretaries in running of their societies.The training which was divided in Clusters of not more than 5 Primary Cooperative Societies lasted for about three weeks, has helped the executive Organ of Primary Societies to understand more on Fair Trade and its operations.

“Through Fair Trade Buyers are connected with Producers. This connection assures buyers what they buy is also used for the development of the whole community because they buy your coffee at highest price that no other market can offer,” explains Fair Trade Liaison Officer Mr. Patrick Shirima. KNCU (1984) LTD has been sponsoring school fees for children of farmers who are less privileged, through the Premiums derived from Fair Trade. A total of Tshs 13.5/- million have been spent on the Secondary education for these students in the season of 2010/2011. Since the launch of this program more than Tshs. 70 millions have been used to facilitate the programme. To expand the sponsorship scheme KNCU is planning to fund some of the education costs on University Level for those students who will make it to higher Learning.

Other Premiums obtained are used for Organic Farming Projects, Environmental Sustainability and Quality Improvement Project. All these Projects aim at ensuring that high quality and quantity of Coffee is attained by the farmers so as to increase the amount of coffee sold in Fair Trade Market. Remarking the huge contribution of Fair Trade to Societies former Farmers’ Technical Service Manager Gabriel Lyatuu details “After the introduction of Fair Trade and its significant role in development of members’ community all farmers seek for inclusion in organic farming, so that they could sell more coffee and ensure more premiums.

Also the demand for new coffee nurseries are very high compared to our capacity this remarks a tremendous interest  on the part of farmers to give more efforts in engaging themselves in Organic Project for the betterment of their Families and Societies at large. In wrapping up the first phase of trainings, Members from various Primary Societies urged the facilitators to conduct regular trainings of the same nature to farmers while expanding the coverage of trainees to ensure all member farmers benefits the training they have received. Moreover they thanked KNCU for helping them improve their lives and made a resolution to improve Coffee Production in their Primary Cooperative Societies.