Ken-21.003

I am Simon Kaniaru Gakinya, and I am a coffee expert from farm to cup. I have over 20
years experience directly working with coffee farmers, as a general manager of dry
coffee milling facility. I do Work closely with coffee growers ,advising them on good
production practices, good processing practices and quality. Am a holder in Hon. BSc.
Agricultural Engineering Option in farm outputs processing , where I took coffee value
chain. Am Certified and licensed coffee quality expert by Coffee Board of Kenya and
Q-grader by CQI. Am married and we have three children, two girls and a boy. Our
coffee estate is registered under the name Simon Kaniaru Gakinya; grower code:
AB.0765. It is located in the highlands around the slopes of Aberdare ranges and Mount
Kenya in Murang a County. The coffee bushes were established in 2013 with SL28
varieties.

The history behind our farm is that we wanted to sustain coffee growing practices since
that is the livehold practice for living income from the area. As a coffee expert I also
wanted to lead by example to less privileged coffee farmers on sustainable coffee
farming that protect the environment and with focus to high premium quality coffee,
out of good agricultural and processing practices. We only apply compost manure since
planting time and we have never used synthetic fertilizers and pesticides. We have
demonstrated to other growers use no water to process by practicing red ripe cherry
natural drying to derive high premium specialty green coffee beans, with unique quality
attributes targeting specialty niche markets.

We have temporary workers comprising 18 years old youths and women whose number
numbers is dictated by production activities around the year. We seek expert advice
when necessary. We grow SL28 varieties and currently use Red Ripe Cherries natural
processing (Drying). What is important to me is to ensure traceability of the beans all the
way to the markets; protecting the environment where we grow coffee bushes and
surrounding; ensuring coffee quality from flowering to the cup by applying best
agricultural practices. To ensure green beans outputs with unique fragrance, aroma and
flavor attributes that qualify for specialty markets through best processing practices. To
ensure the targeted consumers realized the value, tasted and preferences of the
customers with sustainability. Building long term relationships with our buyers and
creating a brand.