Oliver Kishero, like thousands of others in Uganda, is a smallholder coffee farmer who cultivates, harvests and processes coffee on her shamba or plot. In 1998 Oliver joined forces with 2,500 other local farmers to form 'Gumutindo' as a quality improvement programme.
The name 'Gumutindo' was chosen as it means 'excellent quality coffee' in their local language, Lugisu. In 2004 this programme's initiative led to the formation of 'Gumutindo Coffee Co-operative Enterprise', a co-operative which would market and sell their best quality coffee. Cafedirect has been crucial in the formation and development of Gumutindo Coffee Co-operative. Cafedirect, through its producer partnership programme, has invested intensively in strengthening the organisation in its management structures, marketing and export skills and in improving the quality of the coffee.
As a result, more of the value earned for the coffee is returned to the farmers.
With this additional income Oliver has been able to pay for her children to attend school, and provide them with the opportunities she herself wasn't able to have. "I want my children to be educated, as I want them to have more opportunities and not be dependent on the farm, and have a better future."
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