Maraba Sovu, Rwanda

This 1,200kg micro-lot was produced by 48 smallholder coffee producers, who farm in the hills surrounding Sovu washing station. The farmers are members of Nyakagezi Farmers’ Group, which is a smaller association within the Abahuzamugambi Ba Kawa Maraba Cooperative (or ‘Maraba’), who own and manage Sovu along with three other washing stations.

Most washing stations in Rwanda receive cherry from hundreds (and sometimes thousands) of farmers who own very small plots of land. Separation of such tiny lots is expensive and impractical, so the large majority of coffees are processed as a mixed lot from multiple producers. Typically, lots are separated as day lots (ie. cherries that were all picked on the same day) rather than by a single farm or producer group.

The farmers who make up the Nyakagezi group come from a nearby village called Nyarunazi. Recently they banded together and made the decision to process and market their coffees separately as a smaller, more selected lot. The group also provide each other with invaluable support, by sharing resources and labour during the busy harvest period.

To distinguish their coffee and ensure it is processed separately, the producers have organised to deliver cherry to the washing station on certain days of the week. Selling their coffee as a separate lot allows them to directly benefit from any higher prices paid specifically for their coffees (rather than these profits being shared equally amongst all members) and results in a higher income to support their families. This creates an effective incentive for the farmers to work as a collective towards achieving the very best quality.