Uganda Peace Kawomera Cooperative Coffee introduction to Uganda Coffee varieties

Professional coffee knowledge exchange more coffee bean information please follow the coffee workshop (Wechat official account cafe_style)

Uganda, located at the source of the Nile, is a landlocked country in Africa that does not rely on the sea. Although it has a long history of producing coffee like other East African countries, the quality of coffee has never been improved because of the war caused by ethnic antagonism. Most of the good coffee is grown in areas adjacent to Kenya, and some good coffee beans are shipped to Kenya to be mixed with Kenyan coffee for sale. It was not until the end of the war 15 years ago that Uganda became a country with the rapid development of coffee. Uganda is a country with lush green forests, lakes, wetlands and rivers. Coffee is the largest crop in Uganda and earns the most foreign exchange. About 500000 coffee farms are engaged in coffee-related agriculture, accounting for 25% of the total population. Coffee trees are mostly robusta coffee trees, accounting for 94%. Only 6% of coffee is a traditional Arabica tree. These rare coffee beans are grown in tropical rainforests and most of them are exported to countries around the world.

Uganda is already a multicultural and religious country. During the Idi Amin period, the local Jews in Mbale were oppressed, their land and property were taken away, and the number of people plummeted from more than 3000 to more than 2000. Religious conflicts planted the seeds in this small town not far from Mbale. Although we all live in the same community, Christianity, Islam and Judaism are hostile to each other. How can hatred be resolved? It is a dream in JJK's heart to let everyone cooperate and grow together.

In Uganda, coffee exports account for 20% of the country's GDP, which is the most important export product, but most of them are robusta coffee of low quality in the international market. Uganda is rarely seen on the map of boutique coffee in the world, on the contrary, it is mostly in Ethiopia, Kenya and Tanzania. Because of the topography, Arabica coffee can only be grown on the slopes of the east and southwest. In fact, Arabica coffee trees were introduced into eastern Uganda from Ethiopia more than 200 years ago. In the Mbale (east) area, coffee has been grown for a long time, and almost every household has coffee trees, but in the past, coffee was bought by middle-market merchants, no matter the quality was good or bad. Prices rise and fall with the market, and farmers have no incentive to work together to grow better coffee beans, so JJK believes that with the help of cooperatives, the pursuit of higher quality coffee can bring villagers of different religious backgrounds together, boost their confidence and greatly increase their income. In addition to their enthusiasm for coffee, every employee of the cooperative likes to play music, play African drums, play guitar, sing their own music, perform in villages irregularly, and even release albums recorded by Smithsonian Folkway Recordings in the United States.

Peace Kawomera from 2004 to now, a total of 10 years, members from the beginning of more than 2000 people, but also applied for Fairtrade, organic coffee and other international certification, the office from a two-ping small room to now have their own washing coffee machine and sun place, is to be able to produce better coffee, expand Uganda Arabica coffee in the international boutique coffee market, improve the lives of farmers. At present, we have been working with two American Fairtrade coffee suppliers for a long time to improve the quality of coffee and provide scholarships to vulnerable children in the village.

JJK's next goal is to build an interreligious primary school for children in the community. Most local schools are built by missionaries or Muslims, but in fact, every religion has something to learn. Regardless of color and religion, all people have the same blood and should cooperate with each other.

"Peace Kawomera means delicious peace, and I hope to use our delicious coffee beans to bring peace to our community and spread peace to the world. "

Because more than a decade ago, 9 / 11, which shocked the world on the other side of the world, and the mountains of Africa spawned Peace Kawomera, now Peace Kawomera will use their coffee, stories and music to bring the message of peace and happiness to every corner of the world.

END