Burundi FW15+ Shikankoni Hill

The Producers

This community lot is produced by 76 smallholder farming families living on Shikankoni Hill in Butanyerera ex-Kayanza Province, including 21 women registered as heads of household who independently manage their coffee farms. Situated between 1,600 and 1,700 metres above sea level, the farms benefit from fertile volcanic soils, moderate temperatures and reliable rainfall that favour the production of high-quality Red Bourbon coffee.

Coffee is cultivated on small family plots alongside bananas and other food crops, with shade provided by Grevillea and other native trees that help maintain healthy growing conditions. During the harvest season, farmers make several selective picking rounds, often returning to the same trees every few days to harvest only fully ripe cherries. This careful harvesting contributes to both quality and producer income.

Thanks to the close proximity of the washing station, most farmers are able to deliver their cherries within a few hours of harvesting. Deliveries are made primarily on foot, with bicycles used whenever possible, while Cafex supports transportation from more distant collection points during periods of peak production to ensure same-day processing.

Throughout the season, Cafex provides technical support on pruning, natural fertilisation, disease management and selective harvesting. Following the severe coffee leaf rust outbreak experienced in previous seasons, this continued extension work has become particularly important for improving both productivity and cup quality. All producers receive their coffee payments electronically through local microfinance institutions, providing secure payments while facilitating access to savings and agricultural credit. Income from coffee also helps many families purchase school supplies and pay school fees at the start of the academic year.

Shikankoni Hill was selected as an individual community lot because of its consistently high cup quality, excellent cherry freshness and the long-standing relationship between Cafex and the local producers.