Sidama, Ethiopia

A holistic project that supports small-holder coffee farmers.

About Ethiopia

The Sidama region is one of the most deforested areas of Ethiopia that faces unsustainable agricultural practices, including illegal timber logging and firewood consumption.

Overview

In 2015, the Sidama project was established to support small-scale coffee farmers in the fight against land erosion and extreme climatic events. Local climate conditions include droughts, heavy rains and temperature increases.

This project implements agroforestry practices in coffee systems while rejuvenating older coffee parcels. It seeks to address worsening farming conditions, such as regular pests and disease affecting coffee fields and yields, loss of biodiversity, reduced pollination, reduced natural pest control and low quality and quantity of water resources. Technical training through Good Agricultural Practices reinforces farmers’ knowledge and promotes revenue diversification.

Empowering Farmers

Established in 2021 with five community nurseries that supply agroforestry activities with indigenous species, the Sidama project has broadened the involvement of cooperatives.

Nursery managers receive extensive training in seed collection, preparation, and sowing, which contributes to the long-term planting capacity of our farmers. PUR’s goal is to provide affordable seedlings to farmers while transferring knowledge and promoting sustainable farming practices.

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Restoring Ecosystem Services

Diversified native trees are planted in agroforestry and reforestation models in and around smallholder coffee plantations. Project activities include agroforestry training, tree distribution and planting, monitoring and technical support.

Implementing agroforestry practices has the potential to reduce erosion in parcels exposed to landslides, protecting uphill areas that generate natural springs and torrents, which can improve water quantity and quality, restoring ecosystem services and increasing farmers’ resilience.

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Community Engagement Activities

Improved cookstoves are implemented to reduce firewood consumption, time spent cooking and collecting firewood, improving indoor air quality.

Beehives, awareness-raising workshops, and community engagement activities are implemented to support the community and improve livelihoods. Gender diagnostic studies are launched to understand gender norms in the area and how to include women and support gender equality.

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PUR x Nespresso Partnership

Since 2016, the multi-funded Sidama agroforestry project has grown to include ten partners across the Sidama region in 2023—six of which are supported by PUR x Nespresso’s Agroforestry Program.

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"Long years ago, there was different variety and variability of life in our community. However, due to deforestation, wild animals, and medicinal trees, bushes and shrubs disappeared and some of them were decreasing in at an alarming rate. Just to list some, wild deer and gazelles are among the wild animals that were endangered, but currently we are seeing these wild animals again, thanks to the reforestation program which is underway."

Demoze, Tree Nursery Site Manager/Owner