Stories
Ethiopia
11 February 2021
The secret to growing Ethiopia’s best coffee
For many years the Aba Gemta coffee cooperative, in Ethiopia’s Oromia region, thought success in the coffee industry was a myth. But it turned out that with the right tools and knowledge, growing the best coffee in the country was brew-tifully simple!
There’s no argument that some of the world’s best coffee comes from Ethiopia. This should provide an opportunity for coffee farmers to establish profitable businesses and tap into rewarding markets. But in reality, very few are able to realise this potential.
10,000
farmers in coffee cooperatives have received help boosting their incomes.
Without specialist tools and access to markets, many coffee farmers are unable to make a profit, let alone provide for their family’s basic needs. But Farm Africa’s Coffee Value Chain project is helping 10,000 farmers in coffee cooperatives to boost their incomes.
Cooperatives supported by the project have received crucial equipment that enhances coffee quality including sacks, mesh wire beds and bamboo mats. With better quality coffee, farmers are able to gain access to lucrative international markets which pay them a fair price for their produce.
"We used to believe that the country’s best coffee brands were gifted with some kind of coffee that has a better natural flavour. But now we know the secret lies within proper coffee management. As a result, we identified our gaps and successfully addressed those drawbacks.
"We were thrilled to learn that coffee from our locality is now designated as one of the highest quality in the country! We have proven that our coffee can compete in the national and international market if we focus on quality... It would have taken us years to reach this point had it not been for the project."
Abebe Adem
Chairperson of Aba Gemta Cooperative
We are truly inspired by the determination of the members of Aba Gemta Cooperative and are proud to share in their amazing success.
