Mbata is a community of farmers in the northern part of Kasese District situated high in the foothills of the Rwenzori Mountains. Agri Evolve established a buying centre here for the farmers of Mbata and the surrounding communities. Farmers typically have between 1 and 2 acres of land and coffee is their main cash crop together which they grow with their food crops in a mixed agroforestry system . Our Field Officers work with the farmers in groups throughout the area. Farmers have been trained how to improve their yields by using good agricultural practices. The quality of the harvest has also been greatly improved by encouraging farmers to only pick the fully ripe cherries. Red ripe cherries produce the best flavoured coffee and therefore achieve the highest prices.
Ripe, red coffee cherries are harvested daily during the harvest season and taken to Ibanda. The cherries are weighed, assessed for quality and the farmers are paid in cash or by direct transfer to their mobile money accounts. From here trucks carry the cherries to our coffee station at Nyabirongo where the cherries are floated and graded before being sun-dried. Our teams turn the cherries several times each day to ensure even drying whilst allowing the cherries to mature and develop their full rich flavours.
Mbata has been processed carefully with a special selection of ‘over-ripe’ cherries. It has light crisp acidity, a bold sweet body and complex balance of notes of passion fruit and tropical fruits.
