Farm: Kamajumba Estate
Washing Station: Jarama CWS
Producer: Furaha Umwizeye Teuscher
Purchasing relationship: 5 years
Region: Gitwe, Gihombo, Nyamasheke District, Western Province
Altitude: 1516 masl, 2.2°S
The Kamajumba Estate is situated on a peninsula, bearing the same name, directly at Lake Kivu in Western Rwanda, where the border with the neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo (Kinshasa) goes right through the lake. The altitude – the lake is on 1460 masl – and the proximity to the equator as well as the volcanic soil offer unique conditions for growing coffee on the peninsula. The area is surrounded by many volcanoes, most of which are not active, although Mount Nyiragongo erupted on the Kongolese side not that long ago and left many people around the city of Goma without homes.
Kivubelt Coffee was founded in 2011 by Furaha Umwizeye Teuscher. After finishing her Master´s degree in Economics in Switzerland she returned to Rwanda, where she took on the challenge to start a coffee farm. Since then, more than 90'000 coffee trees were planted in the Kivubelt region around the lake on the three farms that belong to the company. Kivubelt Coffee also engages with local smallholder farmers who bring their coffee cherries to Kivubelt´s washing stations. The young company puts emphasis on vertical integration and applies ecologic and sustainable farming practices whenever possible. Employees of Kivubelt Coffee are provided with health insurance, access to education and opportunities to work outside the harvest season as well.
On the Kamajumba Peninsula, which spans around 9 hectares, three people are employed permanently. During the harvest season, which usually takes place between March and June, they are joined by about 50 additional workers.