Updates

Update: August 2011

The project has achieved its goal of increasing coffee growers’ incomes by 50%. The most recent harvest was 30% larger than the previous season. The farm gate price was up by 50%, making it the highest price ever recorded in the region.

Coffee growers are also gaining income from the sale of fruit and vegetables which they have begun to grow alongside their coffee. As a result, growers can now make home improvements, save money and fund their children’s health and educational needs.

Training continues in areas such as organic certification, environmental protection and marketing. So far, 672 farmers have learned how to establish coffee plant nurseries and they can now earn income from selling seedlings to other growers.

Together with government nurseries, these growers have produced 14 million improved variety coffee seedlings ready for planting by local growers.

The area of land planted with coffee trees has expanded from 46,000 hectares to 63,000 hectares. Growers are now confident they can get better prices for their coffee so there’s an incentive to replace old, unproductive trees and to expand their fields.

It is estimated that 40,500 coffee growers across the Kochore region are now benefiting from improved production techniques and organic and fair trade certification.

With support from the project, the Kochore coffee growers’ co-op union has reached the point where it can now effectively oversee production and marketing activities for member co-ops. Some 23 member co-ops, representing almost all of the region’s growers, are now certified as organic producers and 10 of these co-ops are also fair trade-certified. The union is working with the remaining 13 co-ops to secure fair trade certification.

Over the last year, fair trade buyers have paid Kochore grower co-ops about $140,000 in fair trade premiums, in addition to the actual coffee price. This money is used to fund community projects such as bridge building and construction of schools, clinics, flour mills and water systems.

Update: September 2010

The project is moving closer to achieving its goal of increasing coffee farmers’ income by 50%. Farm gate prices have been progressively increasing and coffee production has increased by 25%. Co-op members have received dividends from the profits made by their co-ops. Consequently, farmers’ income has increased by 30% in the past season.

Those trained in nursery skills have also earned extra income from selling coffee seedlings. Other growers have reinvested profits into vegetables which are intercropped with their coffee plants. The vegetables provide additional food for the family and another source of income.

With more income, co-op members have been able to create capital and assets, engage in small enterprises and save money. Flow-on benefits include increased school enrolments, lower school drop-out rates, reduced crime and reduced maternal and child mortality.

Here’s a summary of recent progress towards the project’s five major objectives:

Improved coffee production and productivity

• 250 members of 22 different coffee co-ops were trained in techniques for improving coffee quality and production, and nursery establishment and management.
• 347 model coffee growers attended Train the Trainer sessions on improved production, certification standards and processes, and market and environment information. These model farmers have since shared their knowledge with over 20,000 growers in their respective villages.
• 105 trained growers have been on exposure visits to other certified growers, co-ops and research centres to expand their knowledge on nursery management, intercropping, certification and coffee quality.
• Better quality seeds, as well as tools such as hoes, spades and watering cans, were given to the trained farmers so that their farms can be demonstration sites for neighbouring growers.

Improved capacity of the Yirgacheffe Coffee Farmers Cooperative Union Ltd (YCFCU) to organise and manage member co-ops.

• 107 YCFCU co-op committee and staff members were trained on co-op organisation, business management and business development.
• 22 finance staff have received certification in book-keeping, financial management and auditing.
• 64 co-op union leaders and government staff attended an advanced workshop on gender and leadership issues.
• The co-op union has significantly improved operations and management practices, recruiting expert staff and managers. In 2010, the YCFCU recorded its highest ever profit of 20 million birr (A$1.2 million). 

Improved marketing and promotion of YCFCU coffee

• 190 government staff, co-op certification committee members, YCFCU leaders and staff received coffee certification training.
• 10 of the 22 co-ops achieved Fair Trade certification. This has enabled them to achieve higher sale prices for their coffee. These co-ops have shared their experience with the remaining 12 co-ops who are seeking certification.
• 19 co-ops received organic certification, which also leads to higher prices.
• The YCFCU attended eight trade fairs and exhibitions around the world, showcasing Yirgacheffe coffee.

Improved quality of YCFCU coffee

• 44 industry workers and technicians have gained more skills in quality production. 65% of YCFCU coffee in the past season was export grade quality. The harvest yield was the highest of the past five seasons.

Enhanced local capacity to implement and sustain the project

• A committee has been established to evaluate the coffee value chain so that co-op members can understand where in the supply chain they can add the most value.
• Training manuals have been supplied to all 22 co-ops.