Burundi Kiyonza Natural Akawa Project

Akawa Project's newest addition started operating in 2020, near the border of Rwanda in the North East of Burundi. Located on a hill overlooking the shores of Lake Rwihinda this station was built from the ground up by local implementing partner Succam in order to provide access to the market for local coffee farmers who, until this arrival, were relying on mobile buying from stations located far away. This meant they had no permanent presence to whom not only they could sell their cherries but also to have a contact point throughout the year and be able to build a trusting relationship with. The launch of a modern washing station in Kiyonza means the farmers can now deliver ripe cherries at a natural pace and will be offered agricultural advice from the project staff.

The Kiyonza mill is one of 13 mills that form the Akawa project. A joint venture between Succam and Supremo, the Akawa project was created to help producers escape the cycle of poverty in a sustainable and equitable way. Producers, striving for fairer remunerations and better living conditions, demanded a path towards prosperity. As such the project's working directives are based around UTZ certification standards, focusing on good agricultural practices, environmental responsibility and social equity as the central tenets of success for project members.

Region: Kiyonza
Country: Burundi
Elevation: 1,500 masl
Variety: Red bourbon
Processing: Natural