Burundi Mageyo Women-Led Producer

CHOCOLATE | PLUM | TOFFEE

Empowering women to strengthen their socioeconomic status in society while fostering gender equality and safeguarding women's rights in Burundi.

The Akawa Initiative. This coffee is an integral part of the Akawa Initiative, a visionary project spearheaded by Keynote Coffee to establish stable and equitable supply chains in Burundi. The initiative funds the UTZ certification of the washing station, ensuring that the premiums from all coffee sales are channelled towards training female farmers and washing station workers in effective management practices. The project enhances collaboration on farms, at washing stations, and within households across genders. It also improves savings and cash management at the family level and boosts the participation of women in community decision-making processes. Collectively, these efforts lead to resilient families capable of generating value from their expertise and land.

Processing. Rigorous quality control measures are applied during the cherry drop-off, a process well-received by farmers due to the accompanying payment mechanism. The coffee is meticulously stored in grain pro bags between each processing stage and is subsequently transported to Nairobi for storage before export, leveraging the cooler climate to maintain quality. The Mageyo washing station handles the coffee of 915 farmers from the surrounding region, boasting an annual processing capacity of 45 metric tonnes of green coffee. Farmers in this area cultivate Bourbon varieties, benefitting from the rich volcanic soil that provides ideal conditions for the plants. Mageyo features 80 traditional drying beds, and with an average temperature of 19 degrees Celsius, the coffee dries slowly, ensuring both longevity and exceptional quality in the cup.By championing these initiatives, we not only uplift the role of women in Burundi but also ensure the production of superior coffee that reflects the dedication and expertise of its producers.