Kemal Musa - Coffee Farm

About

Kemal Musa Coffee & spice plantation farm is a coffee grower, processor and exporter in Ethiopia., and It was established about 10 years ago as known modern coffee plantation in Ethiopia. Currently the firm is managed and administered in Bench Sheko zone by producing Gesha coffee Varity and has the head office in Addis Ababa to coordinated and facilitate the overall activities of the enterprise which includes marketing and procurements. The farm is one of known coffee producer companies which is located in Southern region of Ethiopia in the mountains rainforest areas of Bench Sheko zone at Gonak area.

Since time immemorial Arabica coffee has been growing in the wild forest of South Western lands of Keffa and Bench Sheko districts of Ethiopia. Ethiopia is the primary center of origin and genetic diversity of Coffea Arabica. At present coffee is grown as forest, semi forest, garden as well as small and big plantations across the country in Ethiopia, coffee has become a valuable global commodity; a necessity for millions of people who wake up every morning waiting a great cup of coffee.

Production System

Generally the coffee farms are "shade grown coffee", that is, the plants are grown under the shades of trees and which has a positive impact or contribution for coffee quality. In addition it has long-term ecological benefits. These include: offering greater soil stability, provision of wildlife cover; especially for birds, protects coffee plants from extreme weather conditions, lower evaporation rates and therefore greater water availability for coffee plants. Others are cool damp plants. Besides a number of technologies such as, high yielding and disease resistant varieties, improved crop management practices and processing methods have been employed to maintain coffee production and quality. The production system is based on sustainability principles, with professional know how and skills for implementing Good Agricultural practices (GAP) where there is production homogeneity and traceability with in genetic diversity and modernity. The enterprise in general and the farms in particular is guided by the principles of sustainable coffee production which includes:

To produce quality coffee in sufficient quantity,
To maintain and increase the long term fertility of the soils,
To maintain and strengthen the shade trees under which the coffee trees are growing,
To avoid all forms of pollution that may result from operations under practice, and
To choose or develop, relatively the most efficient but economically sound operational methods so as to reduce the cost of production.

Production capacity

The enterprise present annual capacity is at an average 200=240 tons premium small crop green beans coffee and in the near future its capacity would reach 300 thousand tons of green coffee beans. There is one prolonged harvesting period starting with early crop harvest in August and reach its peak in October and November, and completed late December.

Green coffee processing method of the total annual production 100 % is unwashed coffee of the known quality standards Bench Sheka grade 1- grade 5, Currently the enterprise is using coffee processing stations of sister companies.

Certified Coffee Production

Kemal Musa Coffee and spices farm has been delivering coffee in accordance with buyers' interest, social and environmental frameworks. The enterprise is currently organic certified and it is under way to acquire Rain Forest Alliance.

The enterprise is a pioneer organization that is mainly engaged in coffee production and marketing sector to generate significant amount of foreign currency for the country and the green bean has been marketed as either conventional or certified products.

Workers

Since, manpower is one of the most important resource for any organization to achieve its mission and goal, the farm posses' more than 20 permanent employees having different professions. Besides there are more than 500 seasonal workers particularly involved in production and processing activities.

Generally the enterprise is the livelihood for more than 5000 citizens in general and for employees and their family in particular. It provides basic, social and economic services for its employees and families.

Marketing

The farm has been directly and/or indirectly sales coffee both at local and export marketing for about a decade and at present it has above 10 active customers. Although our customers are found in all parts of the globe: Europe, Far East Asia, Australia, North America and Canada.

However, the main export market targeted destinations countries of the enterprise are Germany, Australia, middle east countries, Turkey and USA. To keep up with the demand from its clients, the farm constantly improved its status in terms of quality, trust, creditability, confidence and communication.