In 2001, Neumann Kaffee Gruppe decided to invest in a coffee farm in Uganda, with the objective to produce a unique, washed specialty Robusta coffee; Uganda Kaweri Robusta. Kaweri Coffee Plantation is the only large-scale coffee farm in Uganda. Roughly 200 kilometers west of the capital Kampala, the area is home to wild Robusta trees that are over 100 years old. As a result, Kaweri cultivates direct descendants of these native trees in their highland rainforest habitat.
A Focus on Sustainability
From day one, Neumann Kaffee Gruppe implemented a clear social and environmental sustainability agenda on Kaweri Coffee Plantation. Having the goal in place ahead of the project allowed the coffee fields to be integrated into the exiting ecosystem, leaving nearly 600 hectares of forest untouched. This protection of forest and bio-corridors protects the existing biodiversity. What’s more, they have witnessed a large immigration of partly endangered animals from surrounding, deforested areas is observed, making Kaweri an enormously valuable sanctuary for plants, rare birds, butterflies, reptiles and mammals.
Kaweri Coffee Plantation has created approximately 200 permanent jobs. Additionally, during picking seasons the farm employs an additional 500 – 3,500 pickers. The majority of the permanent employees have been with the company for many years, which expresses satisfaction with working and living conditions at Kaweri. The farm’s social agenda goes beyond local Ugandan employment laws. In addition to that baseline, Kaweri boasts transparent payment structures, workplace safety, health checks, gender equality, and fosters a culture of respect among employees. The farm also prides itself on excellent relations with neighboring communities as well as the local and central government.
Quality
Today Kaweri cultivates 1,626 hectares of selected Ugandan coffee clones under mainly indigenous mixed shade. Cultivated at 1300 meters above sea level (similar to high-grown Arabica) the coffee produces a dense, hard bean. Additionally, Kaweri is the first farm in Uganda that has introduced the washed process to Robusta in large volumes. Cherries are picked selectively and are not stripped, as is common in Robusta cultivation. After the harvest, the cherries are pulped, soaked and sun pre-dried before final drying in drum driers. All of these factors combine to produce a particularly high-quality coffee.
