JAKARTA, Indonesia – Coffee companies, industry associations, certification standard bodies and NGOs from around Indonesia gathered in Jakarta on November 7th to discuss how to work together to build the Indonesian coffee market.
The forum, organised by SNV Netherlands Development Organisation in conjunction with VECO brought together stakeholders committed to growing the coffee sector in a sustainable way.
Participants were companies including Olam, Volkopi, Nestle, Sabani and Indokom and certification standard bodies such as UTZ, Rain Forest Alliance, 4C.
The forum was part of a broader project funded by the Ford Foundation that encourages companies to get improve coffee farmer livelihoods through an inclusive business approach with a particular focus on Flores and Tojara.
Phil Harman SNV Country Director explained that inclusive business is an approach that SNV pioneered in conjunction with the World Business Council for Sustainable development.
“We seek to increase the income, production and well-being of low-income groups, while at the same time, generating benefits for participating companies”, Mr Harman said.
Harm van Oudenhoven, SNV’s Sector Leader for Agribusiness said that some of the best coffee in the world is being produced in Flores and Toraja.
“There is however great room for improvement especially in terms of better farm management practise and post harvesting.
Getting companies involved in training farmers is key to raising quality, increasing supply and ultimately increasing farmer income”, said Mr van Oudenhoven.
Another key focus of the workshop was to generate interest in establishing a sustainable coffee platform.
Mr Rafiuddin Palinrungi, Program Officer Expanding Livelihoods Opportunities explained that while the main goal of the Ford Foundation is to improve small holder farmer income, there is a lot of challenges facing the coffee sector.
“There are too many issues for individual organisations or companies to resolve alone. The formation of a sustainable coffee platform is a way to leverage resources and address the major challenges collectively”, Mr Rafiuddin said.
Companies that are interested in participating in the project are encouraged to contact SNV.
About SNV
SNV is an international not-for-profit development organisation. Founded in the Netherlands nearly 50 years ago, it has built a long-term, local presence in 38 of the poorest countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America.
Its global team of local and international advisors work with local partners to equip communities, businesses and organisations with the tools, knowledge and connections they need to increase their incomes and gain access to basic services – empowering them to break the cycle of poverty and guide their own development.
By sharing our specialist expertise in Agriculture, Renewable Energy, and Water, Sanitation & Hygiene, SNV contributes to solving some of the leading problems facing the world today – helping to find local solutions to global challenges and sowing the seeds of lasting change.
SNV aims to make a lasting difference in the lives of 15 million people living in poverty over the period 2013-2015.
Source: [via]
