The Church of England in West Kenya (WRCCS)

Price policy helps Kenyan tomato producers

The Church of England in West Kenya (WRCCS) developed a project for poor Kenyan farmers to improve their economic position. One initiative of the project was growing tomatoes, which could be sold at the side of the road. Unfortunately middlemen kept the prices of tomatoes low and the farmers' income did not increase. Because of this, the SharePeople team first concerned themselves with the question of how the farmers could improve their position. Together they performed clear SWOT and cost/benefit analyses. Then the team gave directives for (price) strategies, such as the recommendation to deal directly with supermarkets and to develop better market insights. To strengthen the position of the farmers with respect to the middlemen, the team organised workshops to reinforce the synergy mutually.

Follow up

2008: The first trimester of 2008 Kenya involved in clashes after the election of December 2007. Many clashes occurred in west-Kenya, where WRCCS is located. The SharePeople team gave some internal advices to gain better prices for the tomatoes, such as cost pricing and quality control. This advice has been implemented. Another advice to improve prices was to seek partnerships with micro finance partners and with marketing agencies. This advice also has been implemented which led to the farmers organizing themselves in a horticulture marketing (=sales) organisation.  

2009: In 2009 WRCCS expanded het field of work by assisting farmers in business development also to other fresh produces then tomatoes. WRCCS now wishes to become less donor dependent and tries to get some income out of her business development services (BDS). With this focus, Maureen Oduori, business developer Economic Programme WRCCS, participated in the SharePeople Experience Week in July 2009. For her, this was a great opportunity to exchange experiences with other BDS providers and to meet other experts who can assist her in her business planning.