Burundi FW15+ Benga Hill

The Producers

Cafex was launched by a Belgian-Burundian couple that wanted to combine the coffee production of their ancestral lands with sustainable development and a desire to improve the lives of the local population. Cafex has developed a profitable business model for all parties based on mutual participation with growers.

The Cafex station has positively impacted families in the region. The town where the washing station is located is undeveloped and the implementation of the Cafex station allows men and women of the town to find a job that gives them a better salary to improve their quality of life. Families who have a seasonal job have the opportunity to receive an extra income that gives them access to medical care or allows them to buy books in order to send their children to school. Whereas many coffee producers have to wait many months to receive final payment for their harvest, Cafex has introduced a weekly payment to growers, with no delay. It allows them to have a regular income throughout the harvest coffee season.

Throughout the season, Cafex provides technical support on pruning, natural fertilisation, disease management and selective harvesting. Following the coffee leaf rust outbreak experienced in previous seasons, these extension services have become particularly important in supporting farm productivity and coffee quality. All producers receive payment electronically through local microfinance institutions, providing secure transactions while facilitating access to savings and agricultural credit. Coffee income represents an important source of household revenue and helps many families invest in education, including school fees and school supplies.