 |
Ethiopia is the birthplace of coffee and yet the
fourth poorest country in the world. Coffee farmers live a very
traditional lifestyle. Farming less than 5 acres and living in stick
houses - electricity, running water and indoor plumbing are rare
in rural areas.
The Oromia Coffee Farmers Cooperative Union (OCFCU) is an umbrella
organization, serving 36 community-based cooperatives to the benefit
of some 23,000 small-scale, coffee farmer families. It provides
services to the member cooperatives, including: marketing, technical
assistance, Fair Trade and Organic Certification coordination, coffee
processing and export, pre-financing and other administrative services.
In addition, the Union hopes to build a warehouse and a coffee-cupping
laboratory and form a credit union for its members. |
|
|
OCFCU
is unique in Ethiopia. Entering into its third year of direct export,
OCFCU is the first and only entity to have been granted the right
to bypass the Ethiopian coffee auction in order to sell directly
to importers like Cooperative Coffees. Likewise, Cooperative Coffees
is the first to buy their coffee under fair trade contracts.
Without fair trade contracts, farmers receive as little as $0.25
per pound for green coffee on the conventional market. Meanwhile,
most Ethiopian coffee receives a premium well above the “C”
price, offering middlemen exceptionally large profits. In contrast,
the farmers under Fair Trade contracts receive more than three times
the local price, plus the added social benefits provided by OCFCU.
Establishing a direct relationship with the farmers is always an
important aspect of Cooperative Coffee’s mission. But as the
first foreign importers to meet the farmers, the impact seemed even
more dramatic in Ethiopia. |
 |
OROMIA COFFEE FARMERS COOPERATIVE |
|
Founded: June 1, 1999
Region: Limu, Sidamo and Yirgacheffe
Coffee: Arabica SHB, Organic Certified by OKO-GARANTIE
Characteristics: A sweet, complex coffee with medium acidity and
rich, full body |
|
 |
“Before people would not come
here, but treat us like animals and oppress us,” said the
elder Tasew Gebru of the Nagelle Gorbitu Cooperative. “We
appreciate your efforts to improve our lives; we really have seen
an improvement in the last two years.”
Listening to OCFCU farmers’ stories, we are inspired by their
love of the land and by the dignity with which they face their daily
struggles. To each and every one of their members, we send this
traditional greetings:
“Omishagari!” (“Good Harvest!”). |
|
