Kenya Gachatha AB

The Gachatha Coffee Factory sits on 392 acres between the Muthuani, Thiriku, Gachenge and Kianjau villages in the Nyeri region of Kenya’s Central Province. Most members of the community speak a dialect of Kikuyu and marry within their village. While parents work on their small farms, children are sent to schools if they can afford tuition. The 1,542 cooperative members of the Gachatha Factory are given access to pre-financing for these school fees. Additionally, they are given access to farm inputs and funding for emergency needs. These funds are set aside from the previous year’s harvest. This community has a passion for protecting their environment. Community members protect indigenous trees—home to many local birds—and are encouraged to plant more trees on their own farms. The rich well-drained red volcanic soil is ideal for growing coffee. The main varieties grown in the area are SL-28, Batian, SL-34, and Ruiru-11.  The farms are in close proximity to the Gachatha washing station,