Bufumbo Organic farmers association currently is involved in secondary processing of parchment coffee to green coffee ready for market. The secondary processing involves hulling parchment, grading, sorting and packaging of the green coffee ready for the market. Grades of AA, A, B, AB, PB, and CPB are all separated during this stage and then marketed according to the demands of the market to be serviced.

The Energy saving cook stoves together with the briquettes are produced and distributed by the BOFA Women in Coffee and these efforts are directed towards clean energy and reduction in use of firewood for cooking which has a direct negative environmental impact through deforestation. These are marketed to both member farmers and the community.

Value Proposition

Bufumbo organic farmers association is located at jewa town council in mbale district. The association was established in 2007 purposely for a collective effort to produce and market organically certified Arabica coffee to empower the farmers economically so as to improve the standards of living. This was based on the fact that farmers were using artificial fertilisers in the coffee gardens and they would sell a conventional product that fetches little income in the market.

To improve on farms and organic agricultural development, value addition and access to Micro Finance Institutions and to ensure group production, collection, processing, marketing of quality organic products has been prioritized through the installation of coffee processing plant so as to improve quality of life of smallholder farmers. Few farmers were involved in the organic coffee production but we are currently operating with about 1,000 small holder farmers and with the establishment of own processing and storage facility, the association intends to grow and expand its operations in other regions.

Price fluctuations of coffee products affect the production. The association in bid to achieve its core objectives engages the grass root farmers are the suppliers of the organic coffee in parchment form that in processed to add value before being subjected to market processes. The government has off recent enacted policies to promote use of organic farming while reducing the need for chemical intensive farming. The various actors in our value proposition are customers, community, partners and financiers. Customers purchase our products to improve our turnover, provide recognition and providing feedback on the same for improvement. We on the other hand provide them with reliable and sustainably produced high quality washed Arabica coffee.

The community provides the market for the energy saving cook stoves labour force and membership, and in return, we offer jobs, agricultural extension, market for their coffee and corporate social responsibility projects. Financiers offer crop finance, investment advice and financial literacy trainings, and in return, we interest on borrowed money, market for their products. Our partners will technical support, development through grants, and in return will be assured of our royalty.