Nyabumera washing station is located in the Mahembe sector of Nyamasheke District, at an altitude of 1800 meters above sea level, spans on an open valley covering 2 hectares in total Nyabumera manager Victor is an imposing young man, and despite the intimidating look he is all about smiles and producing great coffees.
The station is built from the valley up and the beds are facing towards the North and open on the sides to the West and East, Nyabumera is strategically located, like many other station in the area at the entrance of the valley, and in the middle flow a gentle stream. While storage is currently limited, there are plans in place by Providence, the new owner, to construct additional storage facilities ahead of the next season.
The nearest town is Karongi, sitting on the shores of North Lake Kivu, the town is renowned for the fisheries and for the beauty of the coastline that attracts tourist from Rwanda and oversea.
Originally established in 2005, Nyabumera underwent a recent takeover by Providence in 2023. The name Nyabumera is a derived from the hills that accommodate its existence.
The station operates with a team of 5 permanent staff, including 2 women, and welcomes 80 to 100 seasonal workers during peak harvest times, the gender split amongst the seasonal workers leans towards female employees, with 70% of the workforce being women.
In 2023, the annual production volume is projected to reach 210 metric tons, with ambitious targets of 700 metric tons and a long-term potential of 1000 metric tons. The isolated location and the extensive network of farmers residing in the surrounding hills contribute to this vast potential.
Nyabumera, in 2023, received deliveries from 1200 farmers in the zone, this number has been calculated during the past harvest as farmers were registered at delivery and enrolling in training programs (ATP) during both the harvest and off-season. Training sessions are conducted collectively at the station and include farm visits.
The average farm distance to the station is approximately 6km, although the average farm size is yet to be determined by the ATP program's field officer, the first year of RTC partnership has not included extensive visits.
Transportation of coffee cherries involves cars, motorbike and pick up truck, collecting from various collection points, while some farmers bring their produce on foot. With 20 collection points, Nyabumera facilitates the seamless gathering of coffee from the surrounding areas.
This year marks the first collaboration with the ATP program, bringing in organic fertilizers mixed with chemicals—a common practice in the region. The station draws clean water from a spring within its vicinity and after separating husks and mucilage for composting, the water undergoes filtration through stones in the water pit at last water is neutralized with EM and lime before being discharged.
The station currently operates with 60 drying tables, focusing exclusively on washed coffee processing. However, there are plans to diversify in the future. Two three-disk pulpers work in parallel, with each hopper supporting the coffee processing workflow.
Acquired by Providence from Gyshita, the station, unfortunately, faced neglect for the past two years. Providence has taken proactive steps to revitalize the space, clean up certain areas, and planning to increase the number of drying beds for the upcoming 2024 harvest.
Additionally, plans are in place to construct a larger storage facility on-site, addressing the current shortage.
As a testament to future growth, Nyabumera has 100,000 seedlings ready for distribution in 2023 to support local farmers, showcasing a commitment to sustainable and thriving coffee farming in the region.
Coffee Details
- Origin - Mahembe sector, Nyamasheke District, Western Province
- Producer - Nyabumera 259
- Varietal - Red Bourbon
- Altitude - 1800 MASL
- Process - Washed
- Notes - Watermelon, star fruit, white chocolate, herbal tea
- Cupping Score - 85