COUNTRY - Rwanda

PROVINCE - Southern Province

DISTRICT - Huye District

SECTOR - Huye Sector

ALTITUDE - 1,500–1,800m above sea level

VARIETY - Red Bourbon

PROCESSING - Fully Washed

WASHING STATION - Sovu Washing Station

FARMERS - 48 cooperative members

OWNER - Abahuzamugambi Ba Kawa Maraba Co-operative

AWARDS - Cup of Excellence 2008, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015

Crisp and juicy, with lime acidity, pineapple and plum.

Much like Cyarumbo Womens Coffee, this coffee is also from the same co-operative, Maraba. It should be of no surprise that this coffee was another standout from this region of Rwanda. Separated by different washing station, this coffee has great clarity and sweetness with more focus on rounded acidity and chamomile like florals.

The Maraba cooperative owns and operates four washing stations in the Southern Province’s Huye and Nyamagabe districts: Kibingo, Kabuye, Cyarumbo and Sovu. These centralised washing stations allow farmer members to process and dry their coffee with meticulous care and attention, and to fulfil the potential for quality of the coffees that they grow.

Maraba currently works with 37 different farmer groups, and an additional 23 women-only groups. They typically work on very small farms so the cooperative allows the members to combine their harvests into selected lots that are large enough for export and boost their earning potential considerably.

“Additionally, the cooperative also gives members a number of benefits, including financial support for school fees and health services, and access to a credit fund for home loans and farming equipment. Cooperative members also provide each other with invaluable support, by sharing resources and labour during the busy harvest period.

Because the cooperative is member-owned, all profits are divided between its members, or reinvested into shared infrastructure, resources and training. Maraba’s aim is to use the extra revenue to improve the yield and quality of their members’ coffee, which requires continued education and upgrading of equipment. The cooperative also provides members with access to organic pesticides at a discount and has recently begun making and distributing its own organic fertiliser. To encourage more sustainable farming practices, the cooperative regularly offers training for their members on ways to increase intercropping on their farms. Intercropping is key in making coffee-growing more viable, as it allows for edible crops and shade trees to be grown alongside coffee trees. Not only does this increase food security for farmers, but it also improves the quality of the coffee grown and the health of the soil.”

credit : melbournecoffeemerchants.com.au