Coopapp Fully Washed

Coopérative Agro Pastorale Pour Le Progrès was created in February 2018 by young farmers from Kalehe in South Kivu. When it began, COOPAPP was focused on animal breeding, mainly cattle, poultry, rabbits and hens. When the youth of the organization finished their studies and began working on the farm full time, they had the idea to create a wet mill to process coffee and increase their income streams. Today, the cooperative’s main goal is to support the socio-economic needs of young farmers and promote coffee processing and marketing. Their washing station offers a legal alternative to the illegal sales of coffee across Lake Kivu.

Mugenge washing station, COOPAPP’s station, has been operational since February 2020 and has been extremely successful at processing and selling parchment coffee. In December 2020, COOPAPP partnered with Sucafina for financial and technical support. COOPAPP also receives financial support from Technoserve, a USAID-funded NGO. Each year, RWACOF (Sucafina in Rwanda) finances cherry purchases and provides a market for coffee. RWACOF purchases coffee from Mugenge at a fair price and makes direct second payments determined by the final price.

In addition to coffee, farmers also cultivate beans and soy.

Farmers selectively handpick ripe, red cherry and deliver is to Mugenge station. At intake, cherry is floated to remove any under- or over-ripe cherry. Then, cherry is pulped on a drum pulper and fermented in tanks for 12 to 24 hours. Following fermentation, parchment is washed in clean water and laid on raised beds to dry. Workers rake parchment frequently to ensure even drying. It takes approximately 14 to 21 days for parchment to dry. Once dry, parchment is rested in bags for 2 weeks to 2 months, depending on the time of year, before being moved to the dry mill and prepared for export.