In the Tabe Burka/Tobitu kebele, located in Uraga woreda, Oboleyan collects cherries from farmers practicing agroforestry within the garden coffee system. Growers use agroecological methods, cultivating without chemical inputs. The dominant varieties are Kurume, 74112 and 74110.
Kurume is one of the traditional varieties found in the Guji and Gedeo zones (including Yirgacheffe). These regional landraces, historically selected by farmers in the rainforest highlands, often derive their names from indigenous shade trees. Before it referred to a coffee variety, Kurume designated the Albizia gummifera tree.
74110 is one of the most successful selections from JARC (Jimma Agricultural Research Center), originally from Metu (Illubabor). It is known for its excellent cup profile, good yield, and resistance to rust and CBD.
Oboleyan collects cherries from 148 outgrowers, whose farms range from 1 to 4 hectares, located in Baldicha hamlet (Uraga woreda, Tabe Burka/Tobitu kebele). The elevation ranges between 1,900 and 2,300 meters, with most farms between 2,000 and 2,200 meters.
After collection, cherries are fermented in GrainPro bags for 96 hours, then dried on African raised beds for an average of three weeks. The drying is otptimum due to the weather during harvest (dry season) and the elevation of the wet mill above 2 000 m. Cherries are covered during the night, when it is raining or at noon when it is sunny and turned several times per day.
Oboleyan subcontracts Guji Export (Girma Edema) for dry milling in Addis Ababa, and then handles the export of the coffees.
Belco and Obolyean worked togeteher since 2 023. We share the same vision on specialty coffee. We are commited to connect roasters to the farmers and all the actors working in producing country. Recently we have worked together on a proposal for projects in Uraga. We expect to start in the second half of 2 025. Finaly, Oboleyan Coffee has designed a multi-faceted community development plan for Guji Hambella Dimtu, Haro/Welabu Gogogu, and Uraga Tobitu/Tabe Burka. The initiative focuses on four key areas:
- Clean Water Provision
- Drilling boreholes to provide safe drinking water for approximately 500 households per location,
- Ensuring sustainability through community maintenance training and follow-up.
- Support for Coffee Farmers
- Distribution of 200 raincoats and 200 pairs of rain boots per area,
- Aimed at improving farmer safety and productivity during the rainy season.
- Educational Infrastructure
- Construction of schools with classrooms, administrative offices, sanitation blocks, and a library,
- Each school will serve up to 120 students with access to books and digital learning resources.
- Student Support
- Provision of school uniforms, exercise books, pens, pencils, and sanitary pads for girls,
- Designed to improve school attendance and student performance.
Potential risks such as delays, technical challenges, or budget overruns are addressed through mitigation strategies.
Sustainability will be ensured through community training and ongoing monitoring.
