Forests That Pay: Bajawa Forest Coffee & Food Forests

Local need

In Bajawa, Arabica grows almost wild beneath the forest canopy. Plant density is low, pruning and cleaning under shade are hard, and ripe and unripe cherries are often picked together, so yields and quality stay low. Forest coffee is one of the few incomes that gives families a reason to keep forest standing; if it pays too little, that reason weakens. Many households also hold open farm plots that are barely used.

Activities

• Household baseline on farm practice, cherry quality, food and land status; forming 10 learning groups.
• Field schools on good forest-coffee practice: pruning, soil cover, soil-water care and pest observation.
• Selective ripe-cherry picking and delivery to JYN to an agreed specification; JYN handles processing.
• Group agreements not to clear, burn or fell shade trees, plus 10 biodiversity monitoring points.
• Group discussions on food forests and agroforestry, then a simple plan for every household.
• Training 20 local trainers (at least 6 women), 2 group nurseries and 50 starter food-forest plots on lawful, already-open land.
• A written farmer–JYN framework on cherry specification, weighing, origin records, price basis and payment timing.

Stages

1. Inception & baseline

   Farmers validate the plan, villages and sites; 200 households enrol in 10 learning groups.

2. Field school & ripe picking

   Seasonal practice on farms, then ripe-cherry delivery to JYN with quality records.

3. Food forests & nurseries

   Local trainers coach households; group nurseries supply 50 starter plots.

4. Handover & next phase

   Tools, nurseries and records are handed to groups; a phased plan for up to 300 more households where readiness and funding allow.

What we track

• Households applying at least two agreed practices
• Sampled deliveries meeting the specification agreed with JYN
• Forest stewardship agreements and monitoring-point records
• Active local trainers, nurseries and surviving starter plots

These are the things assessed during the programme, not verified results. Results are reported after delivery and checks.

The programme does not promise a particular quality score, certification or purchase commitment beyond the written framework.

Ways to collaborate

• Coffee buyers seeking quality supply from forest-friendly farms.
• Funding and CSR partners for extending to more households.
• Coffee-agroforestry and biodiversity researchers.