Support to the RELMA project coffee appellation in East Africa. Diagnosis of cooperatives chosen for the project : Kenya - Rwanda - Uganda, 5 Nobember to 7 December 2005

Fourny Gérard. 2005. Support to the RELMA project coffee appellation in East Africa. Diagnosis of cooperatives chosen for the project : Kenya - Rwanda - Uganda, 5 Nobember to 7 December 2005. Montpellier : CIRAD-CP, 81 p. N° de rapport : CP_SIC 1922

Résumé : Under the RELMA project entitled "Coffee Appellation in East Africa", a field diagnosis was carried out at two coffee cooperatives in the Mount Kenya region and a coffee cooperative in the Lake Kivu region in Rwanda. Two sites were also diagnosed in Uganda, in the Mount Elgon region for arabica growing and on the island of Bumjakko for robusta growing. The study conducted at the THE BARICHU FARMERS COOPERATIVE SOCIETY suggests that action could be taken to accompany it in a "geographical indication" initiative. First of all, a study needs to be made of the reasons for the differences in quality found at the cooperative, despite the uniformity of the production zone. Indeed, there are quality differences that cannot be attributed to post-harvest processing. A study is therefore proposed for that purpose, to pinpoint the particular aspects to be improved with a view to homogenizing production and also determining the reasons for the low processing output seen at the cooperative. It also seems necessary for the technical managers at the cooperative to receive training in coffee quality, in line with their lack of knowledge on the subject. The installation of a tasting laboratory also appears to be needed, so that production quality can be judged. The second cooperative chosen for the study is much larger with 12 pulping-washing stations. The operating zone for that cooperative covers plantations ranging from 1500 m to 1900 m. An examination of the results for the THE BARAGWI FARMERS COOPERATIVE SOCIETY indicates that, in its current state, it does not appear possible for the whole cooperative to be involved in a "geographical indication" initiative. The heterogeneity of production means that the production zone cannot be associated with a quality. A set of proposals intended to improve and homogenize the production of the cooperative is proposed, and the performance of the cooperative could be assessed again once the proposed action has been taken. A socio-economic study in the zone might explain the strategies of farmers in the region in terms of coffee growing, as the zone is characterized by the existence food crops in the interrows with coffee (bananas and especially green beans for export), indicating that farmers are no longer satisfied with coffee growing and are therefore seeking solutions to diversify their production. COOPAC is a small cooperative located north of Lake Kivu. The visits made to COOPAC in Rwanda indicate that the cooperative is well structured, and has a good command of post-harvest processing. This cooperative has had a "Fair Trade" label since 2003. It markets its coffee in France through the LOBODIS company. The first administrative approaches should make it possible to identify the procedure for assisting the cooperative in obtaining a geographical indication. The "fully washed" sector, which is a new approach in Rwanda, faces very strong competition from the traditional "washed" sector. A socio-economic study in the zone would make it possible to identify the constraints and strategies of farmers in terms of coffee growing. This study would make it possible to identify farmers' expectations in order to improve both the quality of the coffee produced by disseminating appropriate cultural methods, and farmers' incomes by increasing yields. The visits made to the Mount Elgon region reveal that production at the PWS managed by Main Traders Limited do no meet the ethics of "geographical indication" labelling. However, the "washed" coffee produced by farmers in the zone could very well fit in with such an initiative. It is therefore recommended that a census be carried out with NUCAFE of the producer organizations in the zone, in order to take stock of the existing situation in terms of the quantity produced, and in terms of processing equipment. For the robusta producing region on the island of Bumjakko, it is proposed to start producing washed robusta coffee, which is beginning to be produced in Uganda.

Auteurs et affiliations

• Fourny Gérard, CIRAD-CP-UPR Qualité produits pérennes (FRA)

Source : Cirad - Agritrop (https://agritrop.cirad.fr/532874/)

Métriques

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