Igara Growers Tea Factory
Located in Bushenyi, a hilly area in Southwest Uganda, Igara is a group of about 4,000 smallholder tea farmers scattered over the region.
Largely dependent on tea production, the area is remote, with few roads and little infrastructure. Some growers have to walk or drive many miles over steep hills and rocky roads to deliver their tea. The growers of Igara have developed their knowledge and skills over the years and grow high quality teas which go into Teadirect. Cafédirect's unique minimum tea pricing policy means that Igara tea growers receive more for their tea from Cafédirect than when dealing with other buyers.
Igara have opened 38 collection centres to assist farmers in the region in delivering their tea. Most farmers are shareholders in the factory with shares allocated in relation to the amount of green tea leaves sold. It gives everyone a say in the future of the business.
Robert
Ejiku
Group Manager, Igara Growers Tea Factory Ltd (pictured left)
Robert graduated with a BA in food science and technology from Makvere University in Kampala. He then joined Igara Growers Tea Factory as a trainee in 2000 and was made factory manager just two years later. He was made group manager in 2003.
“My job is challenging, but the company is becoming more productive and profitable because of this great team that we have built together,” he says. “It has been great to work with smallholders!”
He goes on to say, "Selling to Cafédirect widens our market options but more importantly comes with a Premium fund that can be utilised for the various community projects we undertake."
The tea from Igara goes into Teadirect