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.

— Andy Carlton

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.  In 2023, they were able to offer a second payment to the farmers as a bonus for the first time since their start. They observe that the lifestyle changes at farmer level are evident including being able to afford 3 meals a day, sending children to school, buying motorbikes and wearing good clothes. More women were seen in prominent leadership positions in the community and could participate freely because of a improved sense of self esteem because of coffee. They have seen that members of the microstation also have been able to handle large sums of money and account for them accurately. They have been working hard in moving their 3000 farmers in the 10 microstations to be organic certified. Further, they will work with up to 4000 farmers this year in buying their coffees at guaranteed cherry price of 0.60 USD bypassing the C market and still creating stability for the farmers. With the help of their field officers in each microstation, they are training champion farmers in best agricultural practices including making biofoliar as well as compost using local materials who were in turn trained by Ruben Borges. This initiative is now actively implemented within each microstation with the help of field officer making sure all the farmers can benefit from this knowledge. The dream for Zombo continues to be towards increasing purchase from each farmer they work with as well as support them towards increasing productivity as well as foster experimentation of new processing methods depending on the market demand.

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