AB Thunguri

Kibirigwi FCS is a nine wet mill society named Ragati, Nguguini, Mukangu, Kiangai, Kibingoti, Thunguri, Kianjege, Chema and Kiai. All nine wetmills exists however the one Kiai was closed in 2002 due to low production. The cooperative society was registred on 1953 and the main office is located at Ragati wet mill, Kibirigwi sub-Location, Kirinyaga west sub-county, Kirinyaga county. The society is about 5 kilometers from Karatina town and 112 km from Nairobi city. Current total membership of the cooperative is 6,888 active members out of which 4,861 are female and 2,027 are male. Total no. of coffee trees in Kibirigwi fcs is 1,722,000. The Society is managed by Nine elected executive management. 

Selective hand picking of red ripe cherries is practiced by farmers of Thunguri. The harvested cherries are delivered for pulping at the wet mill the same day.  After pulping, the pulped beans are fermented for mucilage removal for 16-18 hours thereafter the beans are washed and graded. The parchment is then dried under the sun to a moisture content of 10.5 -11.5%. The dry parchment is then hulled, graded, sorted, bagged and marketed by Sustainable Management Services Ltd either through the Nairobi Coffee Exchange Auction or direct Sale to overseas buyers.

Region / Area: Kirinyaga County, Kirinyaga west sub-county
Number of Producers: 6,888 Active members
Average Farm Size: 0.5 acre – 50 trees per farm
Marketing Agent Name: Sustainable Management Services Ltd
Varieties: SL 28 ,K7,  Ruiru 11 and Batian .
Main crop- October/ Feb. Light crop- April/ May
Average Rainfall: 1,200 -1,500 mm per year.
Altitude: 2,500 Metres Above Sea Level
Latitude: 1.1132
Longitude: 37.15
Temperature Range: 12 – 25 Degree Celsius
Soils: Deep red volcanic soils