From the Field, New Arrivals
Monday, March 8, 2021
Outstanding Quality in Kenya's 2021 Harvest
In Kenya, milling, grading and marketing for the 2021 harvest are in full swing. At Sucafina Kenya, we’ve been tasting the best lots from growers all over Kenya, and while this year’s crop was exceptionally small, quality has been outstanding, says Wycliffe O. Murwayi, Managing Director of Sucastainability Kenya.
Harvest reductions for this year’s main crop are largely caused by above-average rainfall and a lack of distinct wet and dry seasons this past year. While the higher rainfall decreased production, it improved bean development. Overall, we have seen a much higher percentage of premium grade beans (AA, AB & PB). Additionally, for many growers in Central Kenya, after milling they’ve seen around 50% of their crop graded as AA (screen 18+), compared to the average of about 20-30%. In addition, we are seeing fewer light and immature beans and a better conversion ratio for many farmers (how much cherry it takes to produce 1 bag of parchment).
“Farmers continue to face the usual roadblocks: getting operational financing, accessing quality inputs and receiving agronomical advice. Sucafina Kenya continues to support its producing partners through a range of programs,” Wycliffe says. In addition to their soil sampling program, which produces individualized soil reports and input plans while employing young entrepreneurs, Kahawa Bora Millers’ new microlot line makes it possible for small and medium-sized estates to dry mill and market their coffees individually. The equipment, which is used ONLY for grading specialty lots, was added in 2019. Only two seasons in, it’s already made grading procedures more streamlined and has had a very positive impact on passing greater returns onto farmers.
Sucafina Kenya also helps connect farmers with roasters seeking high-quality experimentally-processed lots. Roasters commit to buying the coffee, giving farmers the security to invest the time and money in producing experimental lots. “These experimental-processed lots for international buyers have been very successful. It’s a win-win for everyone. The farmer is closely supported by our quality team and the roaster gets exclusion experimental lots at great prices,” Murwayi says.
While this year’s harvest will be smaller, we’re seeing a wealth of high-quality lots, making Kenyan microlots a great choice for your coffee program’s high-quality single-origin offerings. This is an especially successful second year for the experimentally processed lots dry milled on specialty equipment at Kahawa Bora.
On the farmer side, we’re hopeful that the premiums from increased quality and better conversion ratios will sustainably support farmers through these low yields. Sucafina Kenya continues to support its partners through a variety of programs, including connecting quality-oriented producers with dedicated buyers. If you’re interested in working more closely with producers to finance exclusive, high-quality coffees, contact us today.