entire activities are devoted to the sale of present 

 crops and to making provision for shipment of 

 fnture supplies. It is just now concerning itself with 

 the erection of a large godown at Nakuru and the 

 ai ranging of facilities for the economical handling of 

 the crop from farm to wharf and from wharf to ship. 



E.^RLY Probably the first attempt to market maize on a 



EFFORTS. co-operative basis was made in 1915 by the farmers 



in the Solai Valley, who arranged to sell their crops 

 through a local firm, which did all the handling at a 

 low percentage. This arrangement was successful, 

 but in the following year the Association now under 

 review was formed, and its officials took over the 

 bu.siness. 



A SOLID The Association has done its work effectively, and 



BASIS OF 93 per cent, of the maize growers within the imme- 



FiNANCE. diate sphere of its operations have now become 



members. An entrance fee of fifteen rupees is paid 

 by each member. Capital is raised by a tax of thirty- 

 seven cents (sixpence) on each bag of maize supplied 

 during the first year, and on any number of bags 

 supplied in any subsequent year in excess of the 

 number on which tax has already been paid. This 

 tax stands to the credit of each member in the shape 

 of capital subscribed. To establish a reserve fund in 

 order to ensure the general prosperity of the Associa- 

 tion, a tax of six cents (one penny) per bag is 

 deducted from each crop. A certain percentage of 

 the proceeds receixed from maize sold is retained by 

 the A.ssociation .until the end of the financial year, 

 when all prices are pooled, each member receiving 

 the same rate for equal quality maize. 



CO-OPERATIVE Among the members privately a certain amount 



BUYING. of co-operation in the buying of standard implements 



has taken place, the handling and ordering being done 

 on a percentage basis by a local firm, who receive a 

 bank guarantee with the order, and as this has re- 

 sulted in a considerable saving there is a movement 

 on foot to make the Association a i)urchasing one in 

 the simplest sense, the purchasing being done through 

 local firms as heretofore. The Association would 

 ascertain the members' needs before placing an order, 

 and the goods would be forwarded direct to each 

 member's railway station. 



loO 



