Timor happenings

Date Posted:25 October 2016 |   Author: Brett Inder |  

In Timor-Leste, our connections go back almost 10 years, to the founding of the East Timor Coffee Institute, through to support for a Timorese producer organization, Alter Trade Timor (ATT), who supply our coffee.

Tradewinds are committed to long term partnerships with producer groups.  We believe development happens best when there are strong and equal relationship between consumers and poor producer communities.  In Timor-Leste, our connections go back almost 10 years, to the founding of the East Timor Coffee Institute, through to support for a Timorese producer organization, Alter Trade Timor (ATT), who supply our coffee. From importing 1 tonne a few years ago, we have grown to 11 tonne this year harvest, due to arrive next month. 

Our investment in ATT has helped them grow significantly, providing increased incomes and new opportunities for thousands of people in the poorest District of Timor-Leste.  Our help has included:

• Supporting ATT to expand exports into a new country
• Supporting ATT staff to attend coffee quality training in Indonesia
• Arranging a visit of a coffee expert, to give feedback on improving systems and quality (latest quality assessments put the coffee in the top group, specialty coffee scoring about 85%!)
• Working with our With-One-Bean partners, we’ll keep providing ongoing support around strengthening producer groups, helping communities to diversify their incomes in sustainable ways.
• This year, the first Timor Coffee Association was formed, and ATT Director, Evengelino, is taking the lead as the Spokesperson and member of the Founding Council.  Coffee is the main income for about 30% of rural households in Timor, and a national body is key to seeing the industry grow and reducing poverty. 

It’s a real privilege for us to have a role in seeing this local grass roots organization grow, people’s lives change, and have growing influence in the wider industry.