Ensuring a Decent Living for Coffee Growers
In one of the poorest nations in the world, where coffee is the main agricultural export, competition can hurt the small grower. So local partner Mountain Harvest is dedicated to ensuring that the 1,000 coffee farmers in their program are not only able to grow high-quality Arabica coffee beans, but that they receive a fair market price for their superior product.
The men and women who participate in the program receive agricultural support and training and are improving profitability by professionalizing coffee picking, and standardizing their processing. Mountain Harvest and the farmers involved have a goal of nothing less than transforming Uganda’s coffee supply chain, enabling a more sustainable and higher-quality life for the farmers and maintaining healthy and thriving natural ecosystems.
So, after paying attention to every aspect of coffee growing for optimum results, all of the farmers have started additional activities to diversify their incomes and lower their risk of devastating coffee losses. Each one engages in any or all of the new enterprises: beekeeping, raising rabbits, or planting macadamia nut and avocado trees.
Because Mountain Harvest offers 10-20% above the customary market price for their top-quality coffee, participants are finding it easier to cover their families’ basic needs. They are able to put some of their earnings aside and plan for the future by supporting each other in Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLA).
And, given that women have traditionally been excluded from many of the infrastructure benefits available to men, farmer groups advocate for opportunities for female coffee growers.
Uganda Mt. Elgon Program
Led by Lutheran World Relief and Local Partner Mountain Harvest