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I registered as a farmer with @TwigaFoods in March. I had been referred to them by a colleague. Being in the agricultural sector as a field officer, I had come face to face with the challenges of brokers (middlemen). THREAD
I was over the top when I finally got a number of their officer in Maragwa. Emails went unreplied. Calls went unanswered and when picked, they had no idea of who their officer on the ground was. It was a circus. Meanwhile, my bananas were going into waste.
When their guy came to my farm, he was high with words. We'd develop a long-term business relationship with the company and beat those brokers. I was over the moon. They came for the bananas after two weeks. By this time, most of the bananas were a waste...
They only bought 205 Kgs from what I had earlier estimated to be 400+ Kgs. High-through!!! It was the first time with them, wasn't it? Was I not building a rapport with the company through this field officer? Or so I thought.
Dude promises he'll be coming to check on the progress of the rest of the bananas. Had to travel away for work. 2 months. Came back at the beginning of May. I call the dude. Says he'll come. One afternoon, I'm outside the gate and I see him riding away.
Feels ashamed. Turns and enters the farm. Without telling me much, "Nimeona. Nitakuongelesha." A week later. I call him. "Ulisema aje?..."Ndio napanga panga nione kama tutakuja kukuchukulia next week (that's last week)." I try in vain to reach him.
On Thursday, I see him outside their office. He's using his phone and chewing Muguka. I call him. Unanswered. I call his colleague. Tells me they are not buying at the moment but will get back this week. Bananas are rotting away.
I take the painful decision.
I take the painful decision.
I contacted a broker....
Something else. They lowered their prices to 12 bob per kilo.
Broker comes with 11 bob. Within an hour or two, business is done.
LESSONS
1. Middlemen are vital in the agricultural supply chain.
Something else. They lowered their prices to 12 bob per kilo.
Broker comes with 11 bob. Within an hour or two, business is done.
LESSONS
1. Middlemen are vital in the agricultural supply chain.
2. Employees are a vital marketing tool for companies. Training is essential.
3. @TwigaFoods is just another broker out their with a little bit of sophistication.
4. Farmers must find market for their produce. There are no options.
What's your experience Senoir? @SeruyaFarm
3. @TwigaFoods is just another broker out their with a little bit of sophistication.
4. Farmers must find market for their produce. There are no options.
What's your experience Senoir? @SeruyaFarm
