Weanie Beans: Ethiopia, Kilenso Mokonisa, Washed

Hailing from the Sidamo region, in the south west of Ethiopia, this coffee comes from the Kilenso Mokonisa co-operative, which forms part of the Oromia Coffee Farmers Co-operative Union - the OCFSU export the coffee, and work exclusively in the Oromia Regional State. They are the first producer group to trial the new Fairtrade Climate Standard, which means 20,000 coffee farmers can improve their living conditions and income, while also becoming more resilient to the effects of climate change.

OCFCU pays 70% of its net profit back to the co-operatives, and Kilenso Mokonisa pays 70% of their profits back to the member farmers.

Kilenso Mokonisa cooperative is about 20 kilometres from the town of Bule Horaand has 2,300 members, of which 135 are female. The average farmer has about two hectares of land and uses ‘false banana’ as an intercrop because it holds moisture from the soil and provides access to water throughout the dry season. The false banana or enset is also very space efficient and can feed more people per square metre of crop than most cereals. It is made into three main foods in Ethiopia – kocho, bulla and amicho.