Oumer Derbaye

How long have you been growing coffee and what got you started?

“I have been growing coffee for almost 21 years now, but my family has been growing coffee longer than that. We have a small farm here in Nensebo region and I got involved in coffee industry because of my family. My parents were growing coffee and at a young age I was helping my family around the coffee farm.”

What is your favorite part of growing coffee?

“My favorite part of growing coffee is the smell during the coffee blossom / flowering season. The smell is very beautiful and not many people get to experience it.”

Conversely, what is the hardest part of your job?

“The hardest part is always during the harvest season. There are many factors that we have to consider. Sometimes we have to wait longer during the harvest season so that the beans have matured to the perfect stage. This means we get paid a little bit later on but it will end up producing great coffee.”

What is unique about how you grow and harvest coffee?

“We do not use any artificial fertilizers and our coffee is 100% natural. Our family has decades of experience in coffee growing and processing so our coffee is becoming more well-known now. We hand pick everything and this activity requires great attention and skill. During our harvest and processing time, we are signing songs in order to give us energy and boost morale.”

What are your plans to continue improving quality?

“We are planning to improve our quality by planting new seedlings that are good for our region and the climate. We always prune our trees so that we can get better yield during the next harvest. We are also looking to increase our tree planting around the farm so that the coffee can grow in the shade.”