The Main aim of the RIJKSwaterstaat project is To make specialty coffee accessible to the mainstream market.
To source green coffee directly from origins by paying a fair price.
Creating recurring contracts annually to strengthen the trust and relationship whilst offering economic stability.
goals:
To bring specialty coffee to the mainstream market by the simple dynamic of paying higher prices for better quality coffee, and organizing a value chain that divides the money fairly.
To create a partnership that benefits producers working on social and developmental projects in their region, by offering a steady trade stream on which other projects can “latch onto”.
To offer a steady income to farmers in vulnerable regions in the world for the duration of the contract, which leads to a “peace of mind” for farming families, now being able to think further than the day-to-day survival.
To make more people enthusiastic about sustainability, by showing the faces and stories of those who grow and produce the coffees that the people at Rijkswaterstaat drink.
To help small roasters to break into an industry of large companies: through this partnership, we collaborate with a (local) specialty coffee roaster, allowing them to break into a bigger market.
“We source from these farmer groups for four reasons: the local need for long term contracts; guaranteed availability of required volumes; price levels that match the demand and; matching flavor profiles.”
kilograms bought per origin
since the start of the contract, until 1st of July 2023
Rwanda:
24.688 kilograms of green coffee; 411 bags
Indonesia:
21.384 kilograms of green coffee; 356 bags
Uganda:
2.835 kilograms of green coffee; 47 bags
India:
7.359 kilograms of green coffee; 123 bags
Ethiopia:
8.728 kilograms of green coffee; 145 bags
Others:
Fillers due to stock shortages or delays as result of COVID-19: 4.753 kilograms of green coffee; 79 bags
Rijkswaterstaat impact in numbers
since the start of the contract, until 1st of July 2023
55.918
kilograms of roasted coffee
69.746
kilograms of unroasted (green) coffee
1.162
bags of 60 kg
We took the prices of these kilograms to measure the financial impact on the ground.
$ 351.161,70
paid to farmers
We paid more for coffee than we were asked to by Rijkswaterstaat, in direct conversation with the farming communities. The price levels set were not in all circumstances enough to cover for the cost of production, and therefore not the personal cost of living.
More money was paid with no strings attached. Money that comes in is managed locally, to fit their demands the best, destined to support the cooperative, or group, in what is needed or urgent. This can be through the different projects they develop (ecological or social) or in becoming financially stronger and offering more opportunities to farmers in the region.
$ 119.420,41
more than the FairTrade minimum
Fairtrade price level was $ 3.53 for arabica from 2011 to 2023, where we paid $ 4.68 per kilogram that period.
Fairtrade price level is $ 4.41 for arabica from 2023, where we paid $ 5.73 per kilogram that period.
Fairtrade price level was $ 2.76 for robusta from 2011 to 2023, where we paid $ 5.37 per kilogram that period.
Fairtrade price level is $ 3.20 for robusta from 2023, where we paid $ 5.00 per kilogram that period.
$ 83.147,57
more than the RWS minimum
Though FairTrade is the common price level at public tenders, It is important to note that Rijkswaterstaat had its own price minimum.
Taking this calculation, for the arabica coffees we have a Fairtrade Minimum Price of $1.40/lbs, minus 25% + the applicable Fair Trade Premium ($0.20/lbs) + the applicable Organic premium per pound ($0.30/lbs) + the additional RWS premium ($0.30/lbs) = $1.85/lbs or $4.08/kg.
For the robusta coffee the Fairtrade Minimum Price is $1.05/lbs, minus 25% + the applicable Fair Trade Premium ($0.20/lbs) + the applicable Organic premium per pound ($0.30/lbs) + the additional RWS premium ($0.30/lbs) = $1.59/lbs or $3.51/kg.
““During the entire term of the Agreement, the coffee producer shall at all times receive at least the applicable Fairtrade Minimum Price per pound minus 25% + the applicable Fair Trade Premium per pound + the applicable Organic premium per pound (Organic Differential) + the additional RWS premium per pound (towards a living income) of ad. $ 0.30.””
The Rijkswaterstaat Projects
an in depth look at the coffee projects that have become possible or have
received a significant boost thanks to the Rijkswaterstaat contract.
Indonesia
Stable income to eradicate poverty
partner: Ontosoroh
300 farmers
356 bags consumed by RWS
30% of blend
Rwanda
a regenerative future for Rwanda’s Youth
partner: Abakundakawa
2109 farmers
411 bags consumed by RWS
30% of the blend
Uganda
Stable high prices for subsistence farmers
partner: Zombo Coffee Partners
1800 farmers
47 bags consumed by RWS
10% of blend
India
Tending to the soil for a regenerative future
partner: South India Coffee Company
1800 farmers
123 bags consumed by RWS
20% of blend
Ethiopia
An estate with positive impact on the community
partner: Limmu Kossa
600 workers
145 bags consumed by RWS
10% of the blend
Project Background
an in depth look into the five projects in the Rijkswaterstaat portfolio.
Zombo Coffee, Uganda
Maarten and Lennart with Zombo Coffee members.
Rijkswaterstaats entry into West Nile region is timely. These long-term recurring contracts allow farmers to experience a financial stability and it builds trust to start depending on such stable market demands without fearing their livelihoods to be at stake. Overall, the economic impact offer by Rijkswaterstaat to farmers working with Zombo Coffee Partners is the nutrition that supports them in leading a better life. Keeping Zombo in business is essential for all the farmers in this region as this means consistent improvement in the bargaining power, supporting farmers to be entrepreneurs and in a way creating a fairer and more transparent coffee business.
“When buying our coffee you allow independent farmers to secure a future for themselves and their children. ”
In a conversation with Andy and Aggrey from Zombo Coffee Partners regarding the impact of this purchase highlights Rijkswaterstaats contribution towards improving the bargaining power of the farmers in the West Nile Region. Zombo Coffee Partners defines impact as empowering farmers to become economically stable in their region. The data visualized below strengthens this story. Over the last 5 years after Zombo coffee entered the West Nile region, the local prices paid per kg of coffee cherry has also improved substantially. This is an important milestone not just for the farmers working with Zombo Coffee Partners but everyone in this region as it allows the farmers to bargain fairly for their produce. Further, this improved income also has led to an increase in the number of farmers joining Zombo in this movement of empowering farmers to become entrepreneurs. Fair prices for their produce also has eventually created a new local standard for the cherry price and an average of 2000 shillings is expected by the producers from all their buyers. The visibility of Zombo has been increasing and they are now working with 4 returning International buyers year after year. Started with exporting 1 container back in 2018 now they are moving towards exporting 3 full containers.
After Zombo became prominent in the West Nile region, a very important impact was around stabilizing the coffee cherry farm gate prices to about 2000 Ugandan Shillings. The number of farmers joining this movement has also increased consistently from 2018. Their motivation is strengthened because of higher income from coffee and increased bargaining power.
Abakundakawa, Rwanda
Members of Ishema, gathered in a training session.
After the genocide ended, leaving behind widows, displaced and separated families, single mothers, children at risk, poor sanitary and health measurements, hunger, vulnerability, and trauma - Rwandas government began implementing a restoration project to bring unity to the population. Abakundakawa was born from these efforts. However, it was not until 2012, when its former manager and lifelong coffee farmer Antoine Kagenza took over the management of the cooperative, that specialty and quality coffee was taught and spread over the 17 districts that form it.
Over the past years, Abakundakawa has significantly grown, attracting more farmers to produce specialty coffee and carefully developing a savings and credit system that offers economic security to its members. In 1999, the cooperative started with 103 members. Today it is formed by 2109 farmers, of which 919 are women, and 477 are youth. In 17 villages in Gakenke district, they supported the creation and development of two women in coffee groups: Duhingekawa and Abanyameraka, as well as the Ishema Youth Coffee Group, also conformed mostly of women (from the 477 farmers 289 are women), developed thanks to an initiative that came from Rutabo farmers when they noticed the alarming reality on the ground.
“The production increased because many farmers were motivated. The youth is encouraged and so they support their parents or family members. ”
In Rwanda, 80% of the farmers are elderly, unemployment is high (24%), and the risk of joining gangs is also quite elevated. "The options young people have are limited," shares Antoine. "A young man can help their parents with their lands, migrate to the city, or join the army. A young woman can marry, migrate to the city (and usually work in sex services), or become a sewer or a hairdresser."
Access to a bigger and broader market, such as Rijkswaterstaat, helped Abakundakawa to develop this much-needed coffee group that also serves as a solution to one of the biggest challenges in coffee: the generational gap. By actively engaging the youth in coffee, production increases for everyone. The most labor-intensive chores rely on the youth. The elder also chose to leave the land to them, increasing the productivity of each tree. The Ishema Youth Coffee Group started in 2016 with 63 members. Today, 477 young farmers are part of this group. They learn credit, savings, administration, and, mostly, coffee.
South India Coffee Company, India
Growing coffee in a natural rainforest environment, Mooleh Maney Estate.
At Mooley Maney, Komal Sable and Akshay Dashrath have put their effort into waste management, soil quality, intercropping, the creation of abundant and well-nourished agroforestry systems, and, quite notably, education and innovation. Their estate is a source of inspiration (and experimentation) on sustainable practices, processing methods, varietals, and ecology. They use almost zero water while processing their cherries and recently installed a solar-powered irrigation system. Their friend and partner Himakirti Godwda, from Krishnagiri estate, says, "I'm curious to see how their irrigation system works before I invest in one." All of this work was done while developing two community projects. Since their collaboration with the Srilangalli community started at the end of 2019, they've offered the technical and processing advice that is taking this coffee to the international market. Located in one of the most vulnerable areas in the region, at Srilangalli, most farmers move by foot, and no proper education is available. "I left because my kids had to go school," says Gidey, a farmer from this community who works with Komal and Akshay and has become the agent linking his community to specialty coffee. Monsoons and heavy rains have sliced mountains, leaving farmers without land and income. Worried about the social conditions most farmers endure in their communities but also about the smart use of water, Komal and Akshay also developed a local Excelsa coffee variety project with the surrounding community members. "Nobody was thinking about the coffee that existed already on the plots, and I wondered why aren't we thinking about Excelsa?" says Komal. Today, neighbors and community members grow Excelsa because they know there is a market for it. A market partially created by this active couple. Excelsa grows already in the plots, is potentially a climate-proof coffee, grows very easily, is resistant, and cups well.
““We see how temperatures are going up. How do we adapt to it? This is not a question, we need to act now. “ ”
South India Coffee Company exporting volumes have significantly increased over the past years, bringing more opportunities for other farmers and producers in the region, such as the case of Venkids Valley and Craigmore, active in soil and waste management, intercropping, and agroforestry. In Craigmore, managed by an ex-navy merchant, self through coffee professional and coffee expert Farokh Anklesaria, the soil organic matter has increased from 1% to 6% over the past five years, positively impacting the coffee they produce and sell. At Venkids Valley, managed by established coffee professionals Pavan and Shilpa Nanjappa, they practice an innovative waste management system made with cherry pulp, increasing the land's microorganisms and the soil's quality.
Solar power irrigation system at Mooley Maney.
A wide diversity of bugs, plants and animals reside on the estates.
Ontosoroh, INDONESIA
ASNIKOM members milling the freshly harvested coffee in Rende Nao.
Flores is one of the poorest regions in Indonesia. This contract with Rijkswaterstaat is crucial for the farmers of the ASNIKOM cooperative to start investing long term in rejuvenating their coffee trees. Adri from Ontosoroh Coffee, the exporter and processor of the coffees, explained that the collaboration with Rijkswaterstaat creates a consistent demand that can be a great incentive for the farmers in Flores to start developing long term plans for a stable livelihood. It is the baseline to start making active quality improvements as well as increasing the yield per hectare. Recently, ASNIKOM in cooperation with This Side Up coffees and Rikolto have started building drying domes to curb quality issues in the future, partly financed by the sales of the coffees to Rijkswaterstaat. Climate change plays a very vital role in affecting the lives and livelihoods of coffee farmers in Flores as well as Indonesia. Coffee in Flores contributes to 65-70% of the main income. Through recurring contracts, farmers can actively leverage their position in making sound investments to improve production capacities and essentially their quality of life. It encourages them to continue producing coffee for the foreseeable future. Regenerative agriculture will help them get good yields in future but for that they would have to lose 10-15% of their trees now which is an adverse effect on the income. But with such a long term contract, balancing between improving and producing can be sharpened constructively. “Demand drives income which in turn is an incentive to keep up with the demands” says Adri.
“We’ve been working with Flores since 2015 and they are now in the position to have that scalable capacity become independent, and stand in their own feet. ”
This an educated guess of the average income farmers earn yearly through coffee. 65% of the total income is from coffee for farmers in Flores. Even though they haven’t been just able to consistently earn the minimum wage by just selling coffee, through the current cherry prices and value added processing, they are growing closer to the minimum wage. This data is also compared against income calculated with cherry prices set by London Exchange, where robusta normally is traded.
In order to help the farmers of ASNIKOM to earn more money, in 2021 and 2022 This Side Up started a project of supporting coffee farmers by intercropping coffee with crops like avocado, black pepper and durian. This benefits are diverse; the organic matter in the soils increases, there is more biodiversity by the creation of a more forest-like system, and farmers have an extra revenue stream of these products. The seedlings of these new crops were partially paid out of the Rijkswaterstaat contribution to the sales of the coffees. More about the project can be read here.
Limmu Kossa, Ethiopia
The estate agronomist showing the specific local cultivar of the subregion Sinsino at Galeh Estate.
Limmu Kossa was founded by Giday Berhe, who started his coffee career as a trader in 1993 in Jimma. He then opened a wet and dry mill station with the aim to supply the central coffee market with quality coffee. In the early 2000s, he decided to establish his own farm in the village of Galeh in Jimma and from the outset establish meaningful relationships with neighbouring smallholder producers. Not only does he spend much of his profit on health care and schooling for the community, he actively teaches the farmers to upgrade their farms and techniques to eventually be able to process and export their coffee for high premiums as well.
Here was the hybrid we were looking for, a private estate with the heart of a producer cooperative. His commitment to produce quality coffee while at the same time supporting his local community has even granted him the title of "Abba Ollie" or “he who uplifts”. It then dawned on us that we had heard similar titles for some of our other parters: Limu Kossa in fact resembles the structures we’re developing in Colombia and Nicaragua. All are private and well-organised support, milling and export entities that exist to uplift the lives of smallholder farmers.
Limmu Kossa is an established played in Jimma and known for both quality and commitment to social programs to improve livelihoods in the community. However, they have been struggling with marketing their coffee consistently to specialty buyers. Like us, they were looking for a partner who is willing to support them in their long-term plans to establish links with surrounding farmers and to allow them to export their coffee too.
“We need to show that an estate can have the heart and the drive to change coffee in Ethiopia.”
When we visited the Limmu Kossa Estate they finished the microregion lot program (divided into Betella, Suki and Suromo - parts of the form), met the three first outgrowers whose coffee we will separate and offer as distinct lots from now on. They also created a cascara protocol and fine-tuned the natural drying process. The level of professionalism with which the farm is set up and maintained from an agro-forestry point of view became evident to us. It was also quite evident that the respect the locals have for Abba Ollie goes deep: the kind of community cooperation model we aim to see grow: people flock to the estate for work not just for the higher prices they receive, but for the good working and temporary living conditions at the farm. Lastly and most excitingly, on that trip, we made plans to create an on-site cupping lab, maintained by local teens who will receive sponsored Q-grading training.
None of this would have been possible without the ongoing support from Rijkswaterstaat. It has contributed steadily to our order from Limmu Kossa, so that we now are able to import many different grades of coffee from the estate. The Rijkswaterstaat coffee is a Grade 4 coffee, which is the result of milling coffee less intensively, but allows a higher price for more coffee to be obtained by the estate.