The ecological settings in the Himalayan hills provide Nepalese coffee a unique opportunity to enter international specialty markets. It is grown in small family farms under shade in the northern-most coffee region of the world. Little or no external input is used. The cherries ripen during the cooler and sunny October to December season. However, coffee is a relatively new crop. Therefore the entire sector chain from certified organic production, through quality processing and handling, to domestic and international marketing needs to be strengthened.

COFFEE PROMOTION PROJECT (CoPP)

The Coffee Promotion Project (CoPP) facilitates the development of the coffee sector. It strengthens the stakeholders for production, processing and marketing of quality coffee for domestic as well as international markets. It started in 2003 and is gradually expanding to a sector support project.

OUTCOMES

• Increased productivity in coffee orchards through improved farming practices; the focus is on organic production systems with the development of internal control system for small farm certification.

• Improved quality of coffee in the cup through adequate technology and quality management during harvesting, processing, packing and storage.

• Improved marketing system including a common quality grading system, trade mark introduction, and exploration of market expansion at national and international level.

• Strengthened governance and transparency in the sector through producer organization at local, district and national level, informal trader forum and coordination among stakeholders.

• Development of Local Resource Persons from among coffee producers as local service providers

PRESENT STATUS

• More than 15,000 households have diversified their farming with coffee production with 35% annual growth in production; about 75% of farmers benefit from CoPP.

• Internal Control System introduced for small-scale farm certification of organic coffee.

• Processing methods changed over past 2 years from 100% dry processing to more than 70% wet processing through the introduction of roller and drum pulpers.

• More than 400 groups in eight districts (Gulmi, Palpa, Parbat, Syangja, Kaski, Kavre, Sindhupalchowk and Lalitpur) joined district associations.

• Linkages to international markets over the last years to Japan, Korea, USA and European countries.

• Development of quality label for Nepal Coffee.

• Initiation of nursery certification for quality seedlings.

PARTNERSHIP

All activities are done through a coordinated effort among various stakeholders in the coffee sector.

• Coffee Producer Groups, District Coffee Producer Association (DCPA), Nepal Coffee Producer Association (NCPA).

• Pulping enterprises, coffee processors, traders.

• District Agricultural Development Office, Coffee and Tea Development Section, NGOs.

• Nepal Agriculture Research Council.

• National Tea and Coffee Development Board, Agro-Enterprise Centre, Winrock International and other partners supporting the sector

FUNDING

About CHF 300,000 per year from Helvetas and DFID contributions to HNCP. Major investments by farmers themselves and by the private sector.

Contact Details

Coffee Promotion Project (CoPP)
Bakhundole, Lalitpur, Nepal, P.O. Box: 688
Phone: +977 1 5543591
E-Mail: copp@helvetas.org.np