WEMIHS Group - Athi Gravity Horticultural Growers

Athi Gravity Horticultural Growers Self Help Group was established in 1st October 2001 with the main objective of horticultural farming and marketing. The group has 10 active members and is registered under the ministry of Social Services as a social group. The group is situated in Gatuanyaga Location, Thika District in Central province.

Products and services

The group specializes in the production of Asian Vegatables. The main production is done on individual pieces of land with average acreage of 0.5 acre per individual. The group relies on Athi River for its irrigation water which ensures production is possible throughout the year with sprinkler/overhead irrigation being the main system of irrigation. However due to the recurring droughts and other effects of global warming, the group has an ambitious plan to invest into drip irrigation system to ensure effective utilization of water and to increase area under production.

Currently the group is capable of producing 4,000 kilograms of the different varieties of Asian vegetables monthly with 80% of the total production being top grade. To ensure adherence to GAP, land preparation is done manually where each group member and family supply the required work force. Planting materials are sourced from certified dealers.

Harvesting is done manually at the correct harvesting stage or depending on customer requirements. Each group member is trained on hygiene to ensure quality of products is at all times maintained.After harvesting, the produce is delivered to a grading shed where it’s graded, selected, packed and weighed awaiting dispatch.

Products marketing services.

Majority of the vegetables produced by the group are sold through contracted exporters. The exporters have a schedule on when to send their own means of transport preferably a truck with a cooler to the groups’ collection centre to pick up the already packed produce. The exporter may send a quality controller to the grading centre who inspects and certifies the product as meeting the quality standard as agreed in the contract or utilize the groups’ quality assurance technician who is well trained and versed with quality standards.

There is no value addition the group does apart from grading, sorting and packing the produce into crates hence the vegetables are delivered fresh and raw from the farm. The method adopted by the group in product pricing puts into accounts the overall costs of production and quality aspects and it’s fixed for the contract period which is normally 12 months with possibility of renewal and price review depending on how the exporter will relate with the group and the benefits of scale economies. Normally small orders attract higher prices.

Currently the groups’ types and Variety for Asian vegetables are as below;

For More Information about Athi Gravity Horticultural Growers, inquiries , orders please contact us at

WEM INTEGRATED HEALTH SERVICES (WEMIHS)
Athi Gravity Horticultural Growers
Physical Address: Workshop Road, Section 2, Thika, Kenya             
Postal Address: P. O. Box 4046, Thika, Kenya
Tel : (+254) 067 21808, (+254) 067 22992
Mobile:  (+254) 0716 800024
Fax:  (+254) 067 22992
E-Mail: athigravityoutgrowers@yahoo.com