Our Farmers
Coffee Producer On-boarding Form
When we began our coffee journey, we knew right away that we wanted to support female African coffee farmers. Why? Because according to research, overall, women earn less income, own less land, control fewer assets, have less access to credit and market information, have greater difficulty obtaining inputs, and receive fewer training and leadership opportunities than men.
That’s why we’re passionate & committed to investing in coffee-related assets of the African coffee farms where our beans are sourced. These women have demonstrated that they financially reinvest in their farming equipment and land. And with the assistance of NGOs and international agencies, many of them are building schools, clinics, and training facilities in their communities to help improve the lives of their workers and their families.
Are you an African coffee farmer or a Cooperative that is dedicated to sustainable farming practices? If so, we invite you to join our Farmer Network. Fill out the form below and a Mutombo Coffee Team member will be in touch, usually within 1-2 business days.
“African coffee farmers are the heart of our business, that’s why our mission is to help those who are export-ready build profitable and sustainable businesses where their beans end up in the hands of coffee-loving roasters all over the world.” Dikembe
Our African Coffee Farmers
Female coffee farmers are the glue in their communities and when they can’t readily access the resources they need to maintain or improve their output and quality of life, these economic and social disparities create operational inefficiencies in the coffee value chain. By actively seeking to minimize the gender gap, we aim to deliver both a high-quality product and risk-adjusted financial performance.
Here’s four key areas of how the gender gap is demonstrated in coffee value chain:
- Distribution of labor: “double burden”; women work much longer days than their male counterparts since they are responsible for both housework and work on farms.
- Income: men receive the proceeds from bean sales, so women have greater difficulty accessing it.
- Ownership: women make up just 3 to 20 percent of landowners in the developing world, even though they comprise 20 to 50 percent of the agricultural labor.
- Lack of leadership: women are increasingly present at cupping tables at origin, but are underrepresented as association leaders, farm managers, or owners.
Here’s how can you help increase the wage of African coffee farmers. Consider…
- Purchase high-quality coffee beans! When you choose to purchase premium coffee, the benefits trickle-down to the farmer level. It means farmers can reinvest in their farms and improve their growing, training and processing practices. And with better traceability and transparency in the supply chain – it also means that part of the premium price you pay will eventually make its way into the famers’ hands.
- When you’re on the go, purchase coffee from cafes and retailers who sell coffee originating from SCA certified coffee farms. Certified farmers are reliable, have demonstrated that they adhere to high quality standards, and are export-ready. The farmers earn a better income from the coffee they produce, which means they can go straight to international markets, where their beans will fetch a much higher price.
- Do your research & support NGOs who are on the ground providing training to coffee farmers and cooperatives. Why? Because one of the most effective ways to increase farmers’ incomes is to help them to process their beans on their farms. NGOs who are training farmers to pulp or hull their beans means that they can take a higher value product to market, and earn a better wage from their coffee harvest.
