Directors Report and Accounts 2021/22 - Report - Page 8
CLIMATE RESILIENCE
ACROSS OUR REGIONS
As we know, climate change poses an increasing threat to
us all. However, sadly, for many communities, the effects
have been evident for many years in the shape of soaring
temperatures, long spells of drought or heavy flooding,
sometimes leading to landslides. Furthermore, what
comes with many of these extreme weather conditions is
the increasing prevalence of pests and disease.
This Fairtrade Fortnight, we wanted to bring our supporters
and farmers together, to discuss the issues faced in different
regions. Across a series of online events, we heard from our
regional teams in Africa and Latin America, as well as customers
who are already experiencing the varied effects of extreme
weather conditions. Here, we provide an overview of our
African sessions, which includes a special focus on the climate
mitigation work of our charity Shared Interest Foundation.
Q&A
FOCUS ON
EAST AFRICA
Immaculate handed over to David Rubanzangabo, who founded
During our East Africa event, we heard from our Lending Manager Immaculate Ochieno
based in Kenya, and Founder & Managing Director of Huye Coffee David Rubanzangabo,
who joined us from Rwanda. Immaculate began by giving an overview of our support in
East Africa. She described how we currently work with 49 customers across four countries:
Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda and Tanzania. The majority of our finance supports coffee but we
are continuing to diversify into other products.
to increased temperatures. Coffee trees are very sensitive to
Huye Coffee in Rwanda in 2012. He said: “We are located in the
Southern Province and have two washing stations that process
1,000 metric tonnes (MT) of cherries per year (1MT equals
David said: “I produce coffee on my own
1000kg). We work with 10,173 coffee farmers, to export their
farm so understand the challenges faced.
produce to the UK, USA, Thailand, Singapore and Japan.
We have a technical team that goes to meet
farmers, as well as five trained agronomists
Immaculate told us that the East Africa region has faced a
for the next harvest. In addition to this, producers are still
series of climate crises, including heavy flooding in Uganda,
recovering from the impact of the pandemic.
just before the pandemic hit. Prior to that, Northern Kenya had
suffered severe drought.
DO YOU TRAIN FARMERS IN
PERMACULTURE TECHNIQUES?
Immaculate said: “The main focus right now is protecting the
land against soil erosion – to safeguard farms and maintain
“The region is mountainous so is prone to soil erosion. Food
and we also receive support from the
security is an issue due to the vulnerability of certain crops
Rwandan Coffee Board.”
these changes, forcing growers to go to higher lands, which
again are more prone to erosion. Meanwhile, the valleys
HAVE PRODUCER NEEDS CHANGED
AS RESULT OF CLIMATE CHANGE?
and lowlands suffer from increased flooding, causing loss of
human life as well as products and property.”
Immaculate said: “There is more uncertainty
about production and price, which affects
co-operatives being able to pay farmers on
time. However, as well as climate change
“THE SOUTHERN PROVINCE HAS BECOME
INCREASINGLY DRY OVER PAST 20 YEARS.
THIS HAS CAUSED CROP GROWTH TO REDUCE
SIGNIFICANTLY AND SHOULD THIS CONTINUE,
PRODUCTIVITY WILL DROP BY AT LEAST 50%.”
there are also market changes, shipping
issues and the impact of Covid-19.”
David added: “We started to see changes
three or four years ago, production went down
Immaculate said: “Unfortunately, smallholder farmers are
quality. Many co-operatives have begun their own training
affected most as they are less prepared for such events.
programmes in climate mitigation. They have taken steps such
For instance, we know that many were left with no food crops
as integrating banana trees in coffee plantations. There is a
Intercropping is where we grow two or more
when swarms of locusts destroyed farms with wheat, maize
dual benefit of growing a food crop but also planting trees
crops in proximity to produce a greater yield.
and corn. Many farmers were left with nothing to harvest.”
strategically to provide shade.”
Huye Coffee Founder, David Rubanzangabo
and income was low. We are introducing
intercropping with coffee and bananas.
It remains difficult to plan ahead - some days
Huye Coffee has put measures in place to support its farmers
there is a lot of rain and others there is a lot
She also explained the issues facing farmers who have two
Soil and water management are serious issues requiring
including encouraging farmers to diversify. They have also
of sun. We also organised for farmers to learn
harvest seasons, such as coffee growers in Uganda. Rapidly
expert intervention and in Rwanda, the Coffee Board provides
established a farmer field school to teach Good Agricultural
how to make manure at home mixed with
changing weather patterns mean that when one harvest is
specialist support for smallholder farmers, whilst in Uganda,
Practice (GAP) techniques such as creating organic compost
coffee pulp.”
affected, there is not enough time or resources to prepare
the Coffee Authority has the same focus.
and planting orange and mango trees for shade.
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SHARED-INTEREST.COM
Polaroid Image: Coffee beans after drying.
Main Article Image: Freshly picked coffee beans
from a Bukonzo farm in Uganda.
SHARED-INTEREST.COM
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