Incofin Investment Management (Incofin) is pleased to announce the first successful investment of the Fairtrade Access Fund (FAF) in East DR Congo. The FAF invested USD 300.000 in a coffee cooperative. Operating in this region of Congo is particularly challenging because of the unpredictable political situation. In fact, FAF is one of the very few international creditors available in this region.
The coffee cooperative groups about 12.000 very small organic coffee farmers, with less then 1 hectare of land, in post-conflict Kivu. The organization mobilizes and structures the small coffee farmers through the production of well-marked, certified quality coffee. In doing so, the cooperative provides support through continuous training of farmers, rejuvenation of plantations, the collection and processing of production and the equitable sharing of social premiums.
The cooperative, as many African coffee producers, taps into the “high-value” market segment of specialty coffees, which are characterized by specific taste profiles and are sold in small batches, usually to smaller roasters. The coffee in this region is rated among the world highest cupping quality, produced entirely from trees in the Bourbon variety of Arabica. The coffee is wet-processed or ‘washed’, meaning the fruit skin and pulp are removed from the beans immediately after harvesting and before drying.
The coffee cooperative is FLO, Organic, UTZ and SPP certified. The coffee is sold to buyers in Germany, the USA, France and Belgium, amongst others.
