Bernard Wolimbwa 17 person family

• Bunanimi Village, Nambongo/Buginyanya, Sironko District, Bugisu Region, Uganda • 6,200 ft. elevation

(photo: Bernard W. with his son, Geoffrey)

Bernard has been farming coffee for 17 years and is currently setting up the first plantation in Eastern Uganda (there currently exists one in Rwenzori, in Western Uganda). Owns 22 hectares, and manages roughly 30,000 coffee trees. Calls his farm ‘Nacofa’ (Nambongo Company Farm), and expects first quality yield from the estate in 2009/2010.

(Bernard's video - larger version here)

Sam Kauka 55 years old

• Buginanya Subcounty, Sironko District, Bugisu Region, Uganda • 6,250 ft. elevation • 01– 16.28 N x 34 – 22.95 E - Download Sam’s Google Earth location

(photo: Sam and his children on the farm)

Sam has been in the coffee farming business for about 22 years now and manages an estimated 250 coffee trees. He says he grows coffee because its is the only cash crop – while other crops such as banana or beans can provide some income and subsistence, this cash crop allows him to truly use his land as his business.

(Sam's video - larger version here)

Peter GimuIi 40 years old • married, 6 children

Vice Chairman, Bufumbo/Masira Coffee Farmers Association • Bufumbo Parish, Masira Subcounty, Bugisu, Uganda • FARM : 5,000 trees (est.) • Bugisu Washed Arabica • 6,430 ft. elevation

Peter and his wife Jennifer raise 1 cow, 2 goats, chickens, and 3 rabbits in addition to their various crops, including coffee. As a family man, Peter’s coffee earnings are used to educate his six children. Peter also recently set up a small nursery to expand his farm and assist his neighbors with new coffee tree seedlings.

Godfrey Bwayo 34 years old • Married, 6 children

• Manafa District, Bugisu, Uganda • FARM : 1,200 trees (est.) • Bugisu Washed Arabica • 4,650 ft. elevation

GODFREY’S grandfather started growing coffee, and passed this knowledge down to Godfrey’s father and to Godfrey himself, who started growing coffee at the age of 20. Each generation has built its homes and schooled their children with coffee.

An early morning coffee drinker, he describes his coffee’s taste as “tastes so good…. You can take it without any sugar and feel very comfortable”.

Boniface Wetebe 55 years old

• Buginyanya Subcounty, Bugisu, Uganda • FARM : 4,000 trees (est.) • Bugisu Washed Arabica • 6,200 ft. elevation

BONIFACE is, at age 55, considered a muzeh (old-timer). He reflects, “coffee was brought here in 1924…My father and grandfathers kept [trees] and up to now I continue to keep coffee. And I also continue to help you in the knowledge of coffee.”

On coffee, Boniface adds, “To produce good quality of coffee you must organize with your family and plant good seedlings, keep a good garden with manure. You pick only red cherry, wash and dry well.”

“To keep organic you must first have a cow. This is my cow”

(Stephen's video - larger version here)

As head of the Buginyanya Field Branch of the National Agricultural Research Organization (NARO), Stephen Wobibi has many responsibilities. He must conquer leaf rust and wilting disease, defeat pests, and convince farmers to 'stump' their trees. Of all his tasks, the last is the most challenging. For leaf rust and wilting disease, Stephen prescribes proper pruning, tree spacing, and keeping a clean garden. For pests, Stephen applies ash to keep away the ants - without ants to eat up the trees’ sugary byproduct, common pests cannot live. For stumping, Stephen has not yet found a good way to explain to farmers that cutting off overgrown stalks of coffee trees (which then cuts off a tree’s income for a short time), is good for the long-term.

NARO takes its knowledge to the farmers; Stephen selects and introduces new varieties of trees, and educates local farmers on how best to care for their crop.