We work closely with our customers to support their businesses. The smallholder farmers who supply us with coffee are at the center of SMS sustainability policies. It is for them that SMS dedicates so much energy and resources.
We have a full-fledged sustainability department with one responsibility; to provide technical support to farmers. This comes in the form of extension, certification, climate change education, cooperative governance among others. So far, more than 100,000 farmers have benefited from SMS training.
Recently, we embarked on an intensified campaign for women and youth integration in coffee farming using modern methodologies that have been applied elsewhere in the world. SMS is also addressing food security needs among farmers who face a wide range of challenges in their lives.
We work closely with all our development partners to ensure rapid responsiveness to the needs of farmers. These partners share the same vision as we do and have been working closely with us through this journey. IFC, Hivos, Solidaridad, SNV, KENAFF, CARANA among others are major partners and financiers in sustainability project undertaken by SMS. They often develop multiple partner projects and incorporate SMS, or singly design and implement with SMS.
It is also worthwhile to acknowledge the coffee buyers who have partnered with SMS in the sustainability program. Among these are Starbucks, Mars Drinks, Nestle, and Tchibo, just to name a few.
Important Milestones – A Company of Firsts