Bekele Kechara Natural Gr. 1

Bekele Kechara cultivates local landraces and JARC varieties on his two farms in Bensa Daye, Sidamo. One farm is in Hache and the other in Murago, towns within Sidamo. In total, he farms 10 hectares. Bekele is a producer representative for Lalisaa farmers in the Bensa region. He works with Sucafina agronomists to train his fellow farmers in Good Agricultural Practices (GAP).  

Like many farmers in Sidamo, Bekele’s farm is organic-by-default. In addition to coffee, he also cultivates enset (false banana) and fruit trees, which provide shade for coffee trees.  

Many would say that the strength of Sidamo coffees lie in the regions’ diversity of profiles. The many microclimates and varying soil types lead to striking differences from town to town. But across all Sidamo coffees is a profound complexity that many attribute to the diversity of local landrace varieties. Varieties can differ from town to town and even farm to farm where each farmer may have more than one unique variety that’s seldom or never found outside their plot.  

Bekele selectively handpicks ripe, red cherry and processes it on his farm. He lays cherry on raised beds to sundry and rakes cherry frequently to ensure even drying. He covers cherry during the hottest part of the day and overnight. It takes approximately 2 to 3 weeks for cherry to dry.  

The Sidama (sometimes referred to as Sidamo) region of Southern Ethiopia holds the distinction as one of the three trademarked coffee regions of Ethiopia. Alongside Harrar and Yirgacheffe, Sidama holds a Designation of Origin for coffee grown in the region. That's unsurprising when you consider the high altitudes of 1,550 to 2,200 meters above sea level, plentiful rainfall and fertile soil that makes the coffee grown in this region so remarkable. 

The Sidama region is named after the indigenous ethnic group, the Sidama, who call the region their home. On Sidama’s Eastern border lies the large regions of Arsi and Bale while to the West, Sidama is bordered by Gamogofa. 

Sidamo lies in the path of the Great Rift Valley and thanks to this, the countryside of Sidama is lush and green. There are several freshwater lakes that provide drinking and agricultural water and account for the densely populated nature of this region.

The Great Rift Valley spans from the northernmost tip of Ethiopia across Kenya and all the way to the southernmost region of Tanzania. It is home to some of the oldest-known fossils of humankind, which suggests its importance in the early development of humanity.

Grades in Ethiopia depend on visual inspection for defects and on cup quality. Grade 1 is considered the highest quality coffee. Grade 1 and 2 are considered specialty coffee, grades 3-9 are classified as commercial coffee. Grade 1 is free of cup faults and taints and has zero quakers.