The rebuilding effort in Vanuatu after Cyclone Pam has a caffeine boost with Oxfam shops now selling coffee made by local farmers on the island. Oxfam Shop General Manager Julia Sumner said four months on from Cyclone Pam the coffee industry was helping farmers in Vanuatu to rebuild their lives.
“The people of Vanuatu and their government have shown enormous strength in the aftermath of Cyclone Pam and coffee farming is one of the ways that local communities are working to rebuild their lives,” Ms Sumner said.
Tanna Coffee is an organisation based in Vanuatu that exports coffee sourced using ethical principles from local smallholder farmers.
Post the Cyclone, Tanna Coffee is expecting to return a 10% yield on crops within 12 months with full yield not expected to return for up to four years.
Tanna Coffee are working with local farmers to introduce new high value crops during the recovery period while laying the foundation for improved coffee growing techniques – creating a foundation for a future source of regular income.
Local Farmer Johnny Willie explains how working with Tanna Coffee prior to Cyclone Pam changed his life and illustrates why organisations such as this will be so vital in the countries recovery.
“Coffee growing and processing has changed our lives by allowing us to earn some good cash income which pays for our children’s education and school fees, as well as buying cooking equipment, building materials, other food, soap and clothes,” Mr Willie says.
“This work has not only allowed me to earn good money and build a strong home for my large extended family, but together we have built a school and church for our village community and recently installed a permanent water pump.”
Tanna Coffee is now available in Australia’s Oxfam Shops providing Australians with an easy way to support the coffee farmers of Vanuatu and their communities.
With an office in the Vanuatu capital of Pt Vila, Oxfam have also been on the ground assisting the recovery efforts of the Vanuatu people over the past four months.
To date, Oxfam has supported over 23,000 people in more than 50 communities on three of Vanuatu’s islands.
