Is Congolese coffee a boutique coffee? What are the main varieties of coffee grown in Congo?

The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is rich in resources but lacks stability and infrastructure due to years of civil war. The country once had a booming coffee industry, but now needs to develop development strategies to help producers realize their great potential and improve the quality of life of farmers. But a number of non-governmental organizations and other agencies are taking steps to revitalize the coffee industry in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

An unstable environment

Despite its potential to become one of the richest countries in Africa because of its natural resources, the Democratic Republic of the Congo is still one of the poorest countries in the world. Between 1994 and 2003, economic and social progress in the Democratic Republic of the Congo was hampered by a post-colonial civil war, with BBC reporting that as many as 6 million people were killed as a direct result of the war or as a result of disease and malnutrition. Tensions remain in the eastern part of the country's coffee-growing areas.

Coffee production was nationalized in the 1970s and successfully developed to the early 1990s, when the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) produced 120000 tons per year. Understandably, coffee production declined during the conflict. It is reported that due to political unrest and related impact on infrastructure, the country's coffee production in 2010 was less than 1/10 of what it was 20 years ago.

The lack of export markets during and after the Congolese war meant that farmers were forced to sell their beans in their original state for processing in neighbouring countries. This is less profitable than selling processed coffee. For many farmers in Lake Kivu, finding buyers for these cherries means a two-day dangerous trip to Rwanda in a fragile wooden canoe. If they are lucky, the price they can expect is much lower than the market value of their coffee. If they are not so lucky, they will be attacked and robbed.

Locals told me that about 2000 coffee growers flooded the crossing.

Agents make changes

Coffee cooperatives have greatly reduced the risk of Congolese producers. By setting market prices and establishing links with well-known international distributors and partners, cooperatives here provide a more reliable and secure trade model than individual producers.

Kawa Kivu is a platform for Congolese specialty coffee producers who have allied with several farmer-led cooperatives in North and South Kivu provinces. One of its cooperatives is the coffee trader and planter Kivu Cooperative (CPNCK), which was established in 2011 to "prevent suffering, save human lives and protect endangered animal species". CPNCK currently has more than 2100 members.

When selling CPNCK coffee, cooperatives use part of their profits to cover their operating costs. It distributes the balance to the grower, who gets the basic payment and part of the profit.

The initiative in eastern Congo is the cooperation of other agencies to improve lives for Congolese producers. Through partnerships with Starbucks and Falcon Coffee, the organization is "developing sustainable agricultural production and helping to restore Congo's main source of high-quality coffee".

Cooperation is the key to improvement

Ensemble Pour la Difference, a Belgian non-governmental organization Rikolto and I work with to improve productivity, quality control, infrastructure and distribution networks. We hope that by working with cooperatives we can improve the conditions and profitability of farmers and distributors in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

In 2013, Ensemble Pour La Difference partnered with CPNCK to provide a loan to help create the first full container of raw coffee outside Kivu Lake Island in Idjwi. Later, Rikolto partnered with CPNCK to install 19 miniature cleaning stations on Idjwi. Rikolto and CPNICK also set up a warehouse for classification and storage, and installed shellers. Coffee has been grown here for more than half a century, but these additions have made a big difference.

These improvements in infrastructure mean that cooperatives can avoid delays and costs in transporting parchment to another dry paper mill on the mainland. They also empower producers who can now supervise quality control throughout the process.

Higher operational efficiency and higher quality coffee have brought more demand and revenue to the island. For coffee growers, this means improving real life. With more income, they can send their children to school and pay for medical care.

Obstacles to further development

The Democratic Republic of the Congo continues to face challenges, especially for island farmers. These include the lack of basic utilities, including electricity and plumbing. The miniature cleaning station and sheller installed in Kivu operate on generators, which greatly increases production costs by ​​.

Transportation to and from the islands is carried out by small canoes, which are limited and time-consuming, so they are expensive.

In the eastern part of the country where coffee production is concentrated, ​​ still exists amid some political unrest.

Plans for the future

In CPNCK, the score of cupping is always higher than 85. This year, the cooperative plans to set up a cupping laboratory, which will help manufacturers better appreciate quality. The organization recognizes that it is essential for them to invest in producers in order to develop the emerging local coffee industry and to develop sustainable international business models.

Gilbert Makelele, president of CPNCK, is committed to developing business relationships and reputation in the region. He meets regularly with international buyers and participates in industry activities to raise awareness of Kivu coffee.

I estimate that CPNCK currently exports only 15 per cent of the island's potential coffee production. But with the improvement of quality and the reputation of coffee from Kivu, demand will also increase. Coffee has the potential to become a viable core industry in the region.

The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has diamonds, copper, gold and large amounts of cobalt in the world (crucial for the production of modern technology from mobile phones to Tesla). With these resources, the Congolese people should have more-public utilities, better health care, more educational opportunities, better infrastructure, etc.

However, this inequality has not stopped farmers in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo from striving for progress. The success of CPNCK and Kawa Kivu shows that progress can be made if people are provided with tools, knowledge and a stable growth environment.