This group started in 2001 with a number of farmers who wanted to address the following issues:

1. The lack of a reliable market for their produce.
2. The lack of strong bargaining power for their produce.
3. The need to diversify their produce.
4. Exploitation by middlemen (brokers).

OBJECTIVES

In view of the above problems, the farmers decided to undertake the following:

1. Sensitize other farmers to realize the need to join forces and deliberate the above problems.
2. Finding a common market.
3. Getting a reliable buyer (exporter).

Within a span of 6 months, the membership stood at 25 members and by then a company, exporting horticultural crops had registered interest with the farmers and entered into an agreement for the farmers to grow snow peas and sugar snaps for it for export.

The exporter provides seed at a cost, which he deducts directly from the sales.

Farmers rented a piece of land where they built a collection and grading centre.

Presently the group sells 4.5 tonnes on average per week, when the weather is favourable. The exporters buying price is about Kshs 50 per kg.

The group has grown and attracted new members to 77 members by early last year (2006).

However, there have been changes. In the year, 2005 there was the introduction of Euro-Gap requirement, which also affected our group e.g.

1. Good farming practices.
2. Good use of pesticides and fertilizers.
3. Hygiene in the production process.
4. Construction of chemical store and protective clothing for the spray men.

Considering that, these conditions came so sudden the farmers were not prepared financially and otherwise.

The group was voted the best managed in the district therefore earmarked as the first group to be audited in preparation for Euro- gap certification.

Members found that they could not meet the financial requirement for the above conditions. Around that time a group of friends – Burning Bush, Inc. supported friends in Kenya with Kshs 137,800, out of which kshs 50,000 was lent to the farming group. This assistance has gone a long way in equipping the group’s chemical and fertilizer store.

Phase one of the euro-gap auditing has been done.

The store has helped the group to:

1. Controlled use of the recommended pesticides by the Euro-gap.
2. Farmers have access to pesticides at the right time.
3. Access to pesticides at cheaper prices than local agro-vets.
4. Access of pesticides on credit to be deducted from their sales.

FUTURE PROJECTIONS

1. In the short run members intend to store fertilizers for the farmers.
2. The farmers intend to build its own chemical store near the collection centre since the present structure is given to them by one of the members.
3. In the long run, the group intends to buy its own plot.

CONCLUSION

The group wish to express sincere gratitude’s to the members of the Burning Bush, Inc. for their prayers, financial and moral support to MAJUNI SNOW SNAPPERS SELF HELP GROUP.