Powering Progress: How Electricity Shortages Stifle Innovation
- Butibuti Thierry, Vice President of the Icuriro Cooperative, discusses the challenges and opportunities faced by the cooperative.
- Located in Buganda commune, Cibitoke province, the Icuriro Cooperative was established to empower local communities through sustainable economic development.
- Sourcing palm nuts is a significant challenge for the cooperative, with Mr. Butibuti Thierry, the 28-year-old Vice President, explaining that "it is not easy to find palm nuts.
Empowering Local Communities: The Icuriro Cooperative’s Journey
Butibuti Thierry, Vice President of the Icuriro Cooperative, discusses the challenges and opportunities faced by the cooperative.
Located in Buganda commune, Cibitoke province, the Icuriro Cooperative was established to empower local communities through sustainable economic development. Since its inception five months ago, the cooperative has been producing soap from palm nut oil and cakes for livestock, employing 11 people and taking a loan of 24 million FBu to initiate the project.
Overcoming Challenges in Sourcing Palm Nuts
Sourcing palm nuts is a significant challenge for the cooperative, with Mr. Butibuti Thierry, the 28-year-old Vice President, explaining that “it is not easy to find palm nuts. We must give money in advance to those who have them so that they can bring them to us, because those who are based in Bujumbura and who practice the same profession as us can come and get supplies here in Buganda. We must do everything we can not to miss out on this material.”
The current supply cost of palm nut is 2150 FBu per kg, making it essential for the cooperative to secure a stable supply chain.
Affordable Prices for Quality Products
The Icuriro Cooperative offers affordable prices for its products, including palm nut oil and soap. According to Mr. Butibuti, “the price of a kilo of soap is 5,000 FBu, while the price of a liter of palm nut oil is 5,600 FBu. For those who wish to buy a 25-liter container, it costs 140,000 FBu.”
The cooperative’s focus on quality and affordability has enabled it to increase productivity and meet the demands of its customers. With a daily production capacity of over 1000 liters of oil and 100,000 soaps, the cooperative is well-positioned to meet the needs of its customers.
Addressing the Challenges of Insufficient Electricity
Despite the cooperative’s progress, it faces significant challenges due to insufficient electrical current. Mr. Butibuti explained that ”we want to achieve overproduction, but this remains difficult due to untimely power cuts. We ask for the availability of enough electricity to be able to work properly.”