Coffee in the DRC
Coffee growers in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) are emerging from over 30 years of conflict. A lasting effect of this conflict was the devastation of the agricultural sector in Eastern DRC, where many rural farmers mainly rely on coffee production for their source of income.
Today, the DRC is rebuilding the economic and social fabric of the country, and the coffee sector will play a leading role in that process. There is incredible potential for growth in a rejuvenated DRC coffee sector. With 75-80 million hectares of arable land, the country was once known as the breadbasket of Africa. Stretching from the high hills of Province Orientale, through the rainforests of Virunga National Park, and down to the smoky volcanic soil on the shores of Lake Kivu, Eastern DRC has been called “a paradise for coffee."
Thus, as DRC moves to the next stage in their coffee renaissance, Coffeelac believes the future lies in taking a more collaborative commercial approach, whereby all stakeholders in a transparent supply chain, from the farmer to the roaster, will profit from DRC’s immense coffee producing potential.
Excited to be part of the re-emergence of the coffee sector in their home country, Coffeelac and partners have already invested over $2 million in fixed assets and working capital to rebuilding the coffee sector in Eastern DRC.
