Mzuzu Coffee Planters Cooperative Union
The Road To Multiple Certification For Mzuzu Coffee
In a bid to expand the export of certified coffee, Mzuzu Coffee Planters Cooperative Union (MZCPCU) in 2009 embarked on developing an internal monitoring system for field production, processing and quality monitoring. Since then, Mzuzu coffee has earned a specially status and is well sort after by both domestic and international buyers.
The internal monitoring system bearded fruits and MZCPCU became Fairtrade certified in 2009. Since then, MZCPCU has maintained this certificate. Apart from the benefit of receiving premium on export market, the certification has helped to win the hearts of both buyers and consumers.
MZCPCU became a member of 4C in October, 2010 and further applied for 4C verification in December 2011. Africert was identified to verify the MZCPCU 4C unit by the 4C Secretariat. The verification took place from 27th February to 2nd March 2012.
The verification was successful and the internal monitoring system was found generally compliant to the 4C Code of Conduct. This means that MZCPCU will now start exporting to the 4C market when the certificate is formally endorsed by the Secretariat.
MZCPCU in its five year strategic plan (2012/13 to 2016/17) has also earmarked Organic and Rainforest Alliance certifications. It is already working in partnership with Malawi Organic Producers Association (MOGA) to draw expertise on organic certification.
We are optimistic of achieving a transition organic certification within 18 months as the initial risk assessment showed a very low usage of chemical fertilizers and pesticides.
Mzuzu Coffee Grooms More Women Coffee Growers
Mzuzu Coffee Grooms More Women Growers
COFFEE farming has for decades been dominated by men at the expense of women.
However, unlike other farming activities that are labour and resources intensive such as tobacco growing coffee is a bit easier as farmers plant once and reap the harvest in the following years.
Coffee also has no specific season, thereby enabling farmers to enjoy proceeds throughout the year. The crop has also enjoyed many years of stability in demand and years of stability in demand and prices on the international market.
Despite these advantages, women have generally been denied the opportunity of venturing into the production of the crop and continue to be marginalized in the production of crops such as maize and tobacco where fortunes are now hard to come – by.
Of the 2,328 registered smallholder coffee growers in Malawi under Mzuzu Coffee Planters Cooperative Union Limited, only 577 are women representing only 28 percent of the total smallholder coffee growing population. The Union now wants to reverse the situation and encourage more women to venture into coffee growing.
Mzuzu Coffee has embarked on a training programme for women in all coffee growing areas across the country to increase their understanding of the industry, especially to increase their understanding of the industry, especially on the marketing of the crop.
With funding from the International Labour Organization (ILO) through the Women Entrepreneurship development (Wed) and the Women Entrepreneurship and Gender equality (WEDG), Mzuzu Coffee is training hundreds of women especially in business and coffee production with the main of nurturing business culture among them.
The programme envisages that the country can develop faster with the inclusion of women in big business activities as that will increase total productivity of a particular country.
Mzuzu Coffee’s Operations Director Bernard Kaunda said women are discouraged from growing coffee because they do not get direct benefits of the farming as men usually monopolize the proceeds despite working together in growing, processing and marketing of the agricultural produce.
As Mzuzu Coffee, we believe that women can be protected from future social and economic hardships that come with incidents like death of husbands. Coffee is a good investment. Once you have planted the plantation one will continue harvesting and making profits unlike other crops that need farmers to plant, apply fertilizers and raise every year.
With the training and a lot of efforts towards empowering women in coffee growing, the vicious cycle looks set to be broken as many women are interested in venturing into the coffee industry.
Mzuzu Coffee has since exported a record 17 metric tons of Arabica produced by women. The exported coffee was sold at a premium price at the New York market.
Mzuzu tops list in Japan!
RESULTS from Jetro’s Cupping of Taste of Harvest Coffees conducted in Tokyo, Japan, in May show that a sample from Mzuzu Coffee Planters Cooperative of Malawi received the highest score, among competing coffees from Uganda, Burundi and Zambia.
Coffee Association of Malawi Chief Executive Clement Thindwa, said Mzuzu Coffee is developing into a preferred and competitive brand in many countries. Read more...
Coffee: it's marketing that counts
Drinking coffee gives innocent pleasure to millions of people, but growing the coffee doesn't bring any pleasure at all to most coffee producers. Worldwide, prices are generally very low, and many smallholder growers have been uprooting their coffee bushes in despair…(read more)