On the Slopes of Africa's Highest Mountain Small Farmers Grow Africa's Finest Coffee

On the Slopes of Africa's Highest Mountain Small Farmers Grow Africa's Finest Coffee

The Kilimanjaro Native Cooperative Union, Africa's oldest coffee cooperative, was founded in 1924 as a marketing organization for the indigenous farmers of the Chagga tribe living on the slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa's highest mountain. Along with all of Tanzania's coffee cooperatives, KNCU was abolished by the government in 1976, but then reinstated in 1984. At this stage, law required that all coffee farmers belong to a cooperative in order to sell their crops. In 1991, Tanzania introduced a new Cooperative Act under which the co-ops became voluntary membership organizations.

Today, KNCU has about 80,000 members from 90 local co-ops. Their smooth, mild beans, considered to be among the finest in Africa, are used in our Tanzanian AA.

"The people of Mount Kilimanjaro are very development-oriented. As I look to the future, a better income from coffee will mean better schools, dispensaries and roads. Buying from KNCU means you get the fine quality you need, and the farmer gets the best return."

— Tobias Ndakidemi, Former Chairman,