Taita Taveta partners with global firm to sell baskets abroad

Basket weavers in Taita Taveta county are keen on capitalising on a global market after the county government signed a partnership deal with Gitzell Fairtrade International.

The US-based organisation works with women weavers in Africa who produce hand-woven baskets for decor, shopping and storage.

 The deal will allow the organisation to collect baskets and other assorted items twice a year from the county based weaving groups.

"Our biggest challenge since we entered into weaving has been securing a stable market. Now we can confidently dedicate our time to meet our client's demands," an elated Hilda Mbuwa told the Star in an interview on Monday.

Mbuwa, who is also the county weavers’ association chairperson, said past training has equipped them with all necessary skills and that they are ready to meet the demand.

There are more than 450 established basket weavers in the county, forming at least 23 weaving groups.

She said the Taita baskets, commonly known as ‘vidasi’, are hand woven to meet the international standards, a success she attributed to a series of training.

 "We have improved the basket quality to meet the required standards. We locally sell a basket at Sh1,000 while internationally, one basket will now fetch us a price of not less than Sh2,000," Hilda said during a meeting at Kasigau.

She said the weavers have fine-tuned their finishing skills, value addition and improved quality standards for the international market.

Hilda said there has been an increase in market for their baskets, prompting the need to increase production.

The Taita Basket Intellectual Property Mark is internationally recognised.

Zelliper Githui, a Gitzell Fairtrade International official, said they are targeting to economically empower African women by selling their products to the global market.

"Our organisation aims at making weaving economically sustainable for producers and women who are largely in this trade across Africa," she said.

The organisation, she said, is also working with women groups from Ghana, Senegal and Uganda, among others.

Governor Andrew Mwadime’s Gender and Youth affairs adviser Jennifer Dali said the devolved unit is working on empowering women groups to financial freedom thus boosting the county's economy.

The weaving culture in the county, Dali said, is a strong tradition that has great opportunities for the crafts economy and should, therefore, be embraced.

The traditional weaving culture has been passed on from one generation to another.

"We have a trademark and the market is ready for us. We need to be dedicated and produce the best quality,” she said, pointing out that the county government will support the groups to acquire weaving raw materials.

Further, she said the weavers will be supported to market their products by offering them exhibition platforms and introducing them to E- marketing platforms.