UGANDA | Specialty Coffee | Filter Roast
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The tree is the symbol of the Masha Cooperative. We visited for the first time in May 2021 and were impressed by the union's mission. Masha stands up for women's rights and promotes agroforestry in the region.
First visit: May 2021
MASHA COFFEE, MT. ELGON REGION, UGANDA. A WOMEN-LE CO-OP.
Story
The Masha coffee cooperative in Sebei was founded in 2016 by a group of coffee farmers in the Mount Elgon region of eastern Uganda. The cooperative was founded to improve the livelihoods of its members through the production and sale of high-quality coffee beans. The cooperative relies on agroforestry.
Since its founding, the cooperative has grown to over 1,000 members. The cooperative is known for producing high-quality Arabica coffee beans that are sought after by coffee roasters around the world.
In addition to coffee production, the Masha Coffee Cooperative has been involved in various social and non-profit development initiatives, such as providing clean water, healthcare and educational support to its members and their families.
Overall, the Masha Coffee Cooperative has had a significant impact on the lives of coffee farmers in the Mount Elgon region and helped promote sustainable and equitable development in the coffee industry in Uganda.
Women's rights
Women take on a large part of the work in coffee cultivation. They are often responsible for planting, caring for and harvesting, as well as processing and selling the coffee beans. Despite this fact, women often have limited access to land, funding and educational opportunities compared to their male counterparts.
The cooperative supports women by improving access to financing options. She has also included women in decision-making processes within the cooperative and encouraged their participation in leadership.