Majuni SnowSnappers Farming Cooperative

Posted on Oct 22, 2008

The Majuni SnowSnappers Farming Cooperative was organized in 1997 by 77 farmers. The farmers grow mostly snowpeas and French snap peas for sale to the European market. They have water for irrigation and hire members of the community who do not have irrigation to work in the fields for money and food.

The group suffered a blow in 2006, when the European Union began requiring suppliers to use organic fertilizer. The farmers did not have sufficient funds to purchase the more expensive organic fertilizer and asked BBI for assistance in the form of a loan. The money was sent with no strings attached. The group decided to lend the money to members as needed; all loans were to be repaid with interest. All of the money was repaid by the end of that year.

In April 2008 the group once again asked BBI for assistance. A 300 percent increase in the price of fertilizer, a severe drought, and civil unrest had devastated the cooperative’s business that year, leaving limited funds for planting the next crop. BBI sent the money requested, and an abundant crop of snowpeas and snap peas was harvested at the end of August.

The cooperative keeps very careful records and is meticulous in its accounting of funds donated to the group and lent to members. The group’s rules have led to transparency and a reduction in the incidence of corruption.

(Click on pictures to the right)