Nyampinga Cooperative

Projects

Active members: 4330

Female members: 300

Male members: 30

Youth (18-35): 20

Active from year: 2009

Total production of members (estimate): 15000 KG Specialty Coffee

Product: Coffee

Certifications: Fairtrade

EUDR: “EUDR ready” for the 2025 harvest

Sales information

Coffee types and grades produced: Fully washed coffee and Honey coffee

Harvest Season: March-June

Export season: From July to September

Annual export volumes (Historical): 38400 KG (Specialty Coffee)

What makes Nyampinga special?

Nyampinga is a pioneering organisation founded by and for women farmers. It has built up a strong track record of delivering training and services to its members, and delivering high quality coffee to its customers. They are now ready to expand, bringing in more women farmers, extending their processing and quality evaluation infrastructure through a grant from USADF and growing their coffee volumes. For this they want to find additional buyers.

History

Nyampinga Cooperative began in 2007 with 60 members, initially as a savings group. In 2009, the cooperative gained legal status but struggled to sell its coffee due to the lack of a washing station. In 2013, Sustainable Growers Rwanda became a long-term partner, supporting the cooperative in agricultural practices, management, and quality control. In 2015, with their assistance, a washing station was built, financing was secured, and market access improved. Today, Nyampinga employs six permanent staff, 100 seasonal workers, and targets five container exports by 2027. It also provides members with loans, health insurance, bonuses, and community resources.

Long-term vision

Nyampinga aims to secure an investment certificate from the Rwanda Development Board and ownership titles for their land from the Rwanda National Land Authority. This move will grant KOPENYA greater authority and security for long-term projects, enhancing credibility with external financiers and donors.

By 2027, Nyampinga plans to increase green coffee sales from two to five containers annually. To reach this goal, the cooperative is developing its own coffee plantation, providing seedlings to replace older plants, and actively recruiting young members—especially women and youth—to build a resilient, productive future workforce. These initiatives aim to boost production levels sustainably and ensure long-term growth.

Farmer engagement

Ejo Heza (future savings), health insurance, and clean water for the local community

Contact Progreso for more information: admin@progreso.nl

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ABAHUZAMUGAMBI BA KAWA MARABA

Projects

  • Active members: 1582
  • Number of female members: 833
  • Number of male members: 749
  • Total production of members (estimate): Between 115,200 and 192,000 kg of green coffee

Certifications: Fairtrade and Organic

EUDR: “EUDR ready” for the 2025 harvest

Sales information

Product : Arabica Bourbon

Annual export volumes (Historical): 192.000 KG

Harvest Season: March -June

Export season: From June to December

History

Abahuzamugambi ba Kawa Maraba Cooperative’s mission is to combat poverty through the production of high-quality, competitive coffee. Founded in 1999 as an association and legally established as a cooperative in 2002, the cooperative now operates four coffee washing stations, a dry mill, and a cupping lab. With 1,561 members, the cooperative produces between 6 and 10 containers of green coffee annually. It is fully Fair Trade certified, with one of its coffee washing stations also certified organic. Abahuzamugambi ba Kawa Maraba offers a range of specialty coffees, including women-produced coffee, natural coffee, and honey-processed coffee.

Mission

Support coffee farmers in boosting both the quality and quantity of their production through guidance from our agronomists. Small farmer groups have been formed to encourage collaboration and mutual support.

Key Achievements

They offer high-quality coffee, maintain two established markets, and have robust infrastructure, a network of diverse stakeholders, and strong member ownership within the cooperative.

Farmer engagement

They do have a farmer’s saving and credit fund, we supply the different shade trees and cooking stove to preserve environment, we support our members in some coffee farming activities like planting new coffee, making coffee extension, replacing the old coffee trees, to prepare compost, etc.

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Bushika Integrated Area Cooperative Enterprise Limited

Projects

Active members: 22 primary societies

Percentage of female members: 32%

Percentage of male members: 46%

Percentage of Youth (18-35): 22%

Active from year: 2010

Total production capacity: 430,100 kg of green beans

Product: Coffee

Certifications: Fairtrade, Organic

Total production of members (estimate): 773,760 kilograms of dry parchment coffee.

EUDR: Geolocations and Polygons (Incl. Efforts for EUDR Compliance): Full geolocations for EUDR compliance

Sales information

Product : Arabica Coffee

Cupping score: 82 – 84

Harvest Season: April-July (Fly crop season); August- December (Main season)

Export season: July to September and November to March

History

The Bushika Integrated Area Cooperative Enterprise (BIACE) is a secondary-level farmer cooperative founded in May 2010 in Bududa District, Uganda. Initially comprising 10 primary societies, it was officially registered in 2015 and received permanent certification in 2017. BIACE now includes 22 primary cooperatives, with three certified for Fairtrade and Organic coffee production, representing 3,040 smallholder farmers, of whom 2,015 grow coffee.

BIACE collaborates with local, national, and international partners, including farmer institutions, the District Government, and NGOs, to support community development. Its activities align with Uganda’s National Development Plan and the Uganda Coffee Development Authority, focusing on poverty reduction, increased production, and value addition for smallholder farmers.

Farmer engagement

Social responsibility initiatives include protected springs, bridges, and toilets; constructing energy-efficient cooking stoves; promoting the forest garden approach; and engaging in carbon credits, and financing.

Mission

To enhance production, collective marketing, and value addition in coffee and other value chains among cooperative members, fostering a sustainable supply of quality products, higher revenues, increased member incomes, and improved livelihoods.

Vision

To be a leading agricultural cooperative in bringing about Social, Economic and cultural transformation of communities in the Elgon Region for better livelihoods.

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KOPAKAKI DUTEGURE

Projects

Active members: 1206

Number of female members: 555

Number of male members: 709

Number of Youth (18-35): 86

Active from year: 2007

 

Product: Coffee

Total production of members (estimate): 900.000 kg of cherries

EUDR: “EUDR ready” for the 2025 harvest

Sales information

Product : Arabica Coffee

Harvest Season: February-June

Export season: from August to December

What makes Kopakaki different?

Kopakaki is one of Rwanda’s pioneering coffee cooperatives, with a proud and resilient history. After facing a challenging few years, the cooperative has successfully regrouped by organizing its 96 most dedicated farmers into eight groups for training and sharing best practices.

 

Kopakaki is deeply committed to ensuring the long-term sustainability of its production. The cooperative is leading the way in developing and producing organic compost and pesticides, including an impressive large-scale “wormery.” They firmly believe that proactive investments in organic farming methods are essential for boosting productivity. The cooperative also boasts an active women’s association, where women come together to work on the coffee plot and learn new cultivation techniques. They produce small lots of women’s coffee for export, highlighting the important role women play in the industry.

 

Kopakaki’s well-established youth program has made great strides since its inception. The Youth in Coffee Farming Association was launched in 2020 with just 16 members and now has 80 active participants. The cooperative has also introduced the Nyabihuta youth internship program in partnership with the Rwanda Training and Vocation Board’s local Vocational Training Centre. This initiative provides young people with hands-on experience across every stage of the coffee value chain—from production to processing, quality evaluation, and roasting. Due to the success of the pilot program, plans are underway to expand it nationwide.

 

Additionally, Kopakaki runs a tourism program that takes advantage of its prime location along the road to Kibuye on Lake Kivu. This initiative educates visitors about sustainable coffee production while generating a supplementary income for the cooperative.

Mission

We support coffee farmers in boosting both the quality and quantity of their production through guidance from our agronomists. Small farmer groups have been formed to encourage collaboration and mutual support.

Key achievements

Established cooperative-owned coffee farms and introduced new processing methods, including natural and honey processes.

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Rwandaro Coffee Farmers’ Cooperative Society Limited

Projects

Active members: 1,740

Percentage of female members: 40%

Percentage of male members: 60%

Percentage of Youth (18-35): 37%

Active from year: 2016

Total production of members (incl. non-members): 500 MT of green beans

Product: Coffee

EUDR: We are mapping and encouraging afforestation to all of our farmers to ensure we are compliant with full traceability.

Sales information

Product : Arabica and Robusta Coffee
Cupping score: 85 points and above

Harvest Season: The Arabica fly season is from February to May and the main season is from September to December and the Robusta Fly season is from May to August and the main season is from December to February.

Export season: June-August and Jan-March

History

The cooperative began in 2016 as a group of 30 farmers. It was registered as a temporary cooperative in February 2019 and gained permanent registration in December 2020.

What makes Rwandaro special?

  • High cup scores of 85+ points.
  • Close engagement with farmers.
  • Enhancing farmer livelihoods through GAPs, coffee processing, and marketing.
  • Every cup supports youth and women empowerment who we encourage to get involved in the whole coffee value chain.
  • Fertile volcanic soils and high-altitude conditions ideal for Arabica and Robusta coffee.
  • Strategic location in the Rift Valley near Queen Elizabeth National Park.

Mission:

Promoting the living standards of our farmers through improved farming Practices, Marketing, Crop Financing, Bulking and Exporting.

Vision:

A leading high quality certified coffee and vanilla producer and exporter in Uganda

Sustainability:

  • Social Impact: The cooperative has extended piped water services to neighboring villages, reducing incidents of drowning in local lakes.
  • Environmental Efforts: Farmers are encouraged to plant cover crops and shade trees to prevent soil erosion and degradation.
  • Initiatives: The cooperative provides training on producing organic manure to enhance farm sustainability.

Contact Progreso for more information: yasmin@progreso.nl

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Mt Elgon Agroforestry Communities Cooperative Enterprise Ltd

Projects

  • Active members: 14 primary societies
    Active from year: 2017
    Total production of members: Arabica 800.000kg, Robusta 250,000kg
  • Percentage of female members: 21%
  • Percentage of male members: 79%
  • Product: Coffee
    Certifications: Organic, Fairtrade and EUDR
  • EUDR: Over 600 farmers with over 1300 farms have been captured with Geolocations. The registration process is ongoing

Sales information

Product : Arabica and Robusta Coffee

Variety/Quality: SL14, Nyasaland for Arabica and Elite and Elite, Clonal and Kitunza for Robusta

Annual export volumes: Arabica – 288MT, Robusta – 6MT

Cupping score: 84+ for Arabica and 83+ for Robusta

Tastify Wheel:

Arabica Coffee: citrus fruit, dark chocolate, floral, fresh bread, tropical fruit, brown spices, brown sugar, medium acidity, good round body, clean, well balanced and sweet aftertaste scoring 84+ cup

Robusta coffee – stone fruit, dried fruit, mildly sweet, full-bodied, well-balanced, clean, chocolate, vanilla, clove-like finish, mild salt and cocoa flavors. It is clean with a balanced body

Harvest Season: August-February for Arabica and and March–July/Sep-Jan for Robusta

Export season: October-June

History

Mt Elgon Agroforestry Communities Cooperative Enterprise Ltd (MEACCE) is a farmer- owned Secondary level organization owned by 14 primaries with a combined membership of 3,832 farmers (796 females) that produces certified Fairtrade Organic Washed Bugisu Arabica and Conventional Robusta Coffee grown on the slopes of Mt Elgon and around the Nile River with the mandate to increase farmer household income.

Vision

Our vision is to have a socially and economically thriving community within a sustainable environment and our strategy is not to trade in members’ produce but to help members market their products to their advantage.

Goal

The ultimate goal of MEACCE Ltd is to ensure that the proceeds and premiums generated from the sale of our members’ coffee are invested in community development projects that are geared towards improving their standards of living, climate change adaptation and mitigation as well as promoting gender equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) plus safeguarding people in all aspects of economy and governance.

Sustainability

MEACCE reinvests coffee sales profits into community development, focusing on:

  • Climate change adaptation and mitigation: Helping farmers cope with environmental challenges.
  • Gender equality and social inclusion (GESI): Supporting the active participation of women and marginalized groups.
  • Social safeguards: Ensuring the well-being of all community members.

MEACCE promotes good governance at the community level, fostering transparency, social trust, and cohesion. We believe the future of coffee farming in Mt. Elgon lies in adapting to climate change and adopting sustainable practices. Through education, climate-smart strategies, and partnerships, we are ensuring the long-term resilience of our communities and ecosystems. MEACCE Ltd remains committed to sustainable agriculture, benefiting both our members and the environment for generations.

Contact Progreso for more information: yasmin@progreso.nl

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COCAHU (Cooperative des Caféiculteurs de Humure)

Projects

Active members: 212

Female members: 47

Male members: 165

Active from year: 2005

Total production of members (estimate): 45,000 KG

Product: Coffee

Harvest Season: March-July

Export season: From August to December

Certifications: N/A

EUDR: “EUDR ready” for the 2025 harvest

Sales information

Product : Arabica Bourbon Coffee

What makes COCAHU special?

COCAHU has a very well-equipped washing station, recently complemented by a first-class coffee warehouse and the acquisition of a truck through a grant from USADF. They now want to boost their coffee production from two to four containers.

In 2022 the cooperative acquired a three-hectare plot which is shared between the 46-strong women’s association and the recently founded youth association. The first significant harvest will be in 2025, and COCAHU would like to produce a microlot of around 500 kilos.

The cooperative would like to gain RFA and Fairtrade certifications as soon as they see market demand.

History

COCAHU was established in 2005 as a cooperative with 213 members, including 46 women. Since 2007, it has been recognized by the Rwanda Cooperative Agency (RCA) and was officially registered on May 17, 2010, in accordance with RCA requirements. COCAHU’s vision is to empower coffee farmers who have long faced the challenges of small-scale farming. Recognizing coffee’s potential as a driver for change, we united to form a cooperative that provides farmers with a stronger market presence, better resources, and opportunities to improve their livelihoods.

Key Achievements

  • Increased Coffee Production: We have successfully increased the number of coffee trees among small-scale farmers, leading to a higher volume of coffee production.
  • Improved Coffee Quality: Through focused efforts on training and better farming practices, the quality of the coffee produced has significantly improved.
  • Enhanced Farmer Income: As a result of increased production and improved quality, the income of small-scale coffee farmers has seen a notable rise.
  • Social Initiatives: We’ve implemented social programs, including job creation, health insurance for members, and social security contributions, which have positively impacted the well-being of our community.

Milestones

  • Sustainability Efforts: We have initiated several sustainability projects aimed at reducing the environmental impact of coffee farming, ensuring long-term viability.
  • Community Development: Our cooperative has played a pivotal role in community development, improving the livelihoods of farmers and their families.
  • Training Programs: We have conducted numerous training sessions focusing on modern coffee farming techniques and risk management, equipping farmers with the necessary skills to thrive.

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Buhanga coffee cooperative

Projects

Active members: 400
Active from year: 2009

Female members: 134

Male members: 266

Youth (18-35): 52

Total production of members (estimate): 500.000 kg of cherries

Product: Coffee
Certifications: in process (Fair Trade)

Harvest Season: March-June

Export season: From September to December

EUDR: “EUDR ready” for the 2025 harvest

Sales information

Product : Arabica Bourbon Coffee
Annual export volumes (Historical): Has only exported microlots to date, other coffee is sold locally

What makes Buhanga different?

The newly elected board is deeply committed to fostering greater involvement of young people in coffee production, recognizing the vital role they play in shaping the future of the industry. To achieve this, we are taking two key approaches:

  • Encouraging farmers to provide their children with a portion of land and coffee trees to manage, giving them the opportunity to earn an income and develop hands-on experience.
  • Supporting initiatives led by inspiring young leaders like Anesia, our 23-year-old agronomist. In 2022, Anesia established a savings group for young people, which began with 30 members meeting weekly. Today, the group has grown to 52 members, and alongside financial empowerment, Anesia provides valuable agronomy training.

Looking ahead, we are excited about the possibility of producing and marketing a special “Youth Coffee,” showcasing the talent and dedication of the next generation.

Mission

To improve livelihoods and financial independence of its cooperative members through preparing its production in heavy quantity with quality to promote farmers and securing access to economical and environmental sustainability.

Vision

To become the leading producer of specialty Arabica coffee, positioning Buhanga Coffee as a competitive, high-quality green coffee brand on the international market through exceptional taste and export excellence.

Farmer engagement

Assist cooperative members in covering health insurance for farmers, supplying livestock to support organic manure production, preparing and providing shade trees to help farmers protect soil from erosion, and promoting solar energy use to reduce CO2 emissions.

Key achievements

  • Production has increased due to preparing and distributing 30,000 seedlings to farmers each year at no cost.
  • Soil and environmental protection has improved by providing shade trees to our farmers.
  • Staff are highly qualified, having received extensive training in agroecology (agronomists) and financial management (accountants).
  • Strong governance has been achieved, supported by capable leaders committed to cooperative sustainability.
  • Coffee quality has improved, with cupping scores increasing from 84 to a range of 85–87.
  • Soil analysis has been conducted, enabling soil improvements based on results to boost production levels.
  • Coffee traceability has been enhanced by collecting data through the Beyco app.
  • Skills in price risk management help protect our business from losses due to market fluctuations.
  • Training in marketing has provided knowledge on finding buyers and building stronger relationships.

Contact Progreso for more information: yasmin@progreso.nl

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Bwindi Coffee Growers Cooperative LTD

Projects

Active members: 577

Active from year: 2019

Female members: 118

Male members: 459

Youth (18-30): 90

 

Coffee tree varietals: Elite, KR1-10

Post-harvest processing infrastructure: Coffee washing station with covered drying tables

Altitude of farms (range): 1300 to 2000 Arabica and 600 to 1200 for Robusta

Harvest Season: March – June and September – November

Export season: March onwards and November onwards

Sales information

Coffee types: Arabica and Robusta

Coffee grades: Drugar, Robusta FAQ, Specialty Natural Fully Washed Arabica

Cupping score: 84-86

Total production of members (estimate): 260 Tonnes (Arabica), 540 Tonnes (Rubosta)

History

Founded on January 1, 2019, with 65 shareholders, Bwindi Coffee Growers Cooperative Ltd has grown to 577 members, including 459 men, 118 women, and 90 youth under 30. Operating near Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, it promotes coffee cultivation, supporting local livelihoods through the coffee value chain.

Sustainability

  • Women´s Empowerment; through promoting gender equality, economic independence and leadership.
  • Sustainable Coffee Production; we promote eco-friendly farming practices, shade-grown coffee, and organic fertilizer.
  • Climate change adaptation and mitigation; We support farmers in adapting to changing weather patterns as well as giving them free tree seedling to mitigate climate change.
  • Coffee Farmer Cooperative; empowering smallholder farmers through training, Finance and Market Access.
  • Boosting coffee farmers income reduces economic pressure to look to the resources of the National Park.

Farmer Engagement

  • Bamboo plants along river Mubuku banks
  • Tree planting

Challenges

  • Temperature Fluctuations: These impact coffee ripening cycles.
  • Limited Access to Quality Agro-Inputs: Challenges include insufficient access to high-quality seedlings, organic fertilizers, and pesticides.
  • Market Challenges: Limited access to markets and fluctuating global coffee prices make it difficult to sell directly to international buyers.

Achievements

  • Partnerships and Networks: Collaborations include UCDA, Kanungu Local Government, Gorilla Coffee Conservation (GCC), Progreso, Solidaridad, Quinta Coira (Roasters United), and local buyers.
  • Registered Cooperative: Fully registered under the Uganda Cooperative Alliance (UCA) and recognized by the Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Cooperatives (MTIC).
  • Specialty Coffee Experts: Renowned for producing and selling high-quality specialty coffee.
  • Producing high-quality, fully-washed and natural coffee to speciality standard.

Contact Progreso for more information: admin@progreso.nl

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