V I R U N G A NATIONAL PARK COFFEES
S P E C I A L T Y A R A B I C AS FROM NORTH KIVU ON THE BORDERS OF THE VIRUNGA NATIONAL PARK, DR CONGO WELCOME TO EASTERN CONGO, THE LAST MAJOR UNDEVELOPED SOURCE OF FINEST QUALITY ARABICA
nknown until a decade ago, Kivu arabicas are starting to become established on the global speciality coffee Umap, with stunning cup profiles. Now, there is an opportunity to discover these coffees through a partnership between coffee farmers, Farm Africa and the Virunga National Park.
Accommodation City Village Patrol Post Virunga Park Kawa Kanzururu Cooperative Coopade Cooperative THE VIRUNGA THE PARK AND NATIONAL PARK NORTH KIVU COFFEES COMMUNITIES
he borders of the Virunga National Park, The aim of the Virunga National Park coffee irunga is Africa’s oldest National Park. civil society and the private sector, the National including the slopes of the Rwenzori programme is to enable farmers to realise the Established in 1925, it's one of the last Park is investing in a number of initiatives to TMountains and the uplands to the full potential of their coffees. The farmers are Vrefuges of the mountain gorilla, and is promote economic regeneration, most notably a north-west of Lake Edward, contain some of the already organised at village level, around small- also home to highly endangered lowland gorillas major hydro-electric generation and distribution finest Arabica coffee growing land in the world. scale coffee washing stations, and are affiliated as well as savannah elephants, chimpanzees, venture. This is already bringing employment The climate is temperate with plentiful rainfall to two vibrant young cooperatives, Kawa lions, leopards and antelopes. It has the largest opportunities as well as access to electricity for and sunshine, volcanic soils, as well as altitudes Kanzururu and Coopade, based close to Beni diversity of birdlife in the world. thousands of households. rising to over 2,000 metres. Smallholder farmers and Butembo respectively, for milling and export. Due to its situation in eastern Congo, the park Virunga National Park is embarking on a major here have long grown heirloom bourbon varieties, Already these cooperatives are producing faces many existential challenges, as chronicled agriculture programme, with the vision of but until very recently post-harvest processing extraordinary coffees, as testified by Kyle Tush, in the 2014 film Virunga (available on Netflix). boosting the livelihoods of smallholder farmers was very basic and the only buyers were informal a Coffee Quality Specialist with leading US who live around the park by investing in the traders, mainly coming from neighbouring speciality coffee roaster Counter Culture Coffee. For Virunga National Park the conservation of production and marketing of their food crops Uganda. its extraordinary wildlife, and the promotion and their cash crops, including coffee. In this of the social and economic well-being of the way the pressures on farmers to encroach on people of North Kivu who live around the park, the park to extract wood for charcoal will be go hand in hand. Through the Virunga Alliance, reduced, and farmers will see positive benefits which is supported by the provincial authorities, from the park’s presence.
"Coffees we've tasted from the Virunga National Park project in North Kivu have impressed us greatly, to say the least. Not only do they have the potential to stand with the best Arabicas produced in the DRC, but also some of the best produced in East Africa." Kyle Tush, Counter Culture Coffee VIRUNGA NATIONAL PARK’S COFFEE PROJECT WITH FARM AFRICA
he programme will boost the livelihoods the quantity and quality of the fully washed of more than 7,000 coffee farming Arabica produced by the cooperatives. Tfamilies living on the border of Virunga This will be achieved through upgrading National Park. The farmers are organised processing and storage capacity, installing in two co-operatives, Coopade and Kawa cupping labs, and through training in quality Kanzururu. The project, which is financed management, evaluation and control at each by the European Union, will strengthen level from farmer to export. their business at each level, from farm The business management capacities of the management to production and business cooperatives will be strengthened, including systems, while building a strong profile and the governance issues entailed in operating presence in international markets. a complex business, and the cooperatives’ The project approach is based on ability to secure working capital. implementing a holistic and sustainable farming model, including crop diversification, The cooperatives will be supported to establishing a balance between food security understand and operate successfully in and cash generation. The programme includes international markets, with the aim of training on good agricultural practices and establishing linkages with importers, roasters, the establishment of nurseries for coffee as brands and retailers through well as other trees. long-term business partnerships. This approach involves direct outreach, attending There is a strong emphasis on increasing trade fairs and using social media.
FARM AFRICA
arm Africa is an innovative charity that From forest communities in Ethiopia to reduces poverty by unleashing African commercial smallholders in western Uganda, Ffarmers’ abilities to grow their incomes Farm Africa has deep and diverse experience in an environmentally sustainable way. Farm in helping communities harness coffee’s Africa helps smallholders to not only boost income-generating potential. Farm Africa yields, but also gain access to markets, while provides tools and training in improving protecting the environment for generations to coffee quality, productivity, business practices come. and market integration to help farmers lift themselves out of poverty. KAWA KANZURURU COOPERATIVE
Founded: June 2014 Fairtrade planned for 2019 Location: Farms are located Average size of land per on the slopes of the Rwenzori farmer: 0.37 hectares Mountains, bordering Virunga Infrastructure: 22 micro- National Park washing stations. Two washing Headquarters: Quartier stations are run by the women’s Mwangaza, Commune Rurale section. Lume, Territoire de Beni, Main harvest period: August Province du Nord-Kivu to November Altitude: 1,000m to 1,800m Export Period: December to Membership: 1,642 producers March (350 women and 1292 men) Sales: Ex Beni or FOB Varieties: Blue Mountain, Mombasa Rumangabo Volumes sold in 2017: 48MT Certification: Organic and DRC Uganda
Kawa kanzururu cooperative
Virunga National Rwanda Park COOPADE COOPERATIVE
Founded: June 2014 Infrastructure: 11 micro- Location: Farms are located washing stations. Four in Lubero area, bordering washing stations are run Virunga National Park by the women’s section. 14 additional microwashing Headquarters: Commune stations are planned. MUSUSA, Ville de Butembo, Province du Nord-Kivu Main harvest period: September to November Altitude: 1,300m to 2,100m Export Period: December to Membership: 4,159 producers March. (1276 women and 2883 men) Sales: Ex Butembo or FOB Varieties: Blue Mountain Mombasa. (mainly), Katwai, Rumangabo Volumes sold in 2017: 134MT Certification: UTZ & organic, Fairtrade planned for 2019 Average size of land per DRC farmer: 0.37 hectares Uganda
Coopade cooperative Rwanda
Virunga National Park GET IN CONTACT
o learn more about opportunities to source these fine coffees, and so to become a partner in this exciting initiative, please get in contact. T Richard Hide is a coffee specialist with 30 Adelard Palata has worked with most of the years experience, mainly in the African coffee local coffee sector's key players. Between industry. For more than 25 years, Richard 2001 to 2005, Adelard managed a coffee was the Head of African Coffee and Head of plantation in Dunda for Copratex. Between Trading and Marketing at the British coffee 2010 and 2012, he represented Schluter's specialist NGO Twin. Northern Kivu operations. Since 2012, he has Phone/Whatsapp: +44 781 002 2923 worked with cooperatives to develop high quality coffees. Skype: Richard_Hide Phone/whatsapp: +243 892 212 131 Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] (French only) (English and French)
Crispin Muse is the Managing Director of Roger Kasereka is the Managing Director COOPADE. He holds a degree in Rural of Kawa Kanzururu. He holds a degree in Development. Accountancy. Phone/Whatsapp: +243 997 970 277 Phone/Whatsapp: +243 997 970 277 Email: [email protected] (French only) Email: [email protected] Tel/What'sApp Email:[email protected] (French only)