Our Approach

We have a business-oriented development approach. This is another way of expressing "help for self help".
When a coffee farmer can improve the quality of his crop he will increase his earning capacity and be better equipped to care for his family. When he gets better market access through improved capabilities of his farmer organisation this will also potentially increase the price he can obtain for his coffee and thus have a positive impact on his income. And higher income means no need for charity to improve living conditions - and is far more sustainable.

An example

A good way of illustrating the ICP approach is the example of Ugandan peasant farmer Ssyenyondo John Bosco. He became involved in the ICP project in Uganda in 2004, at which time he owned 2 acres of coffee with 800 trees. His average production was 800 kg Kiboko per season, which resulted in an annual income of only 460 US Dollars for a household of seven. He owned a four roomed wattle and mud house with a corrugated iron roof. He could barely afford to meet his family´s needs. 

After joining the project he was trained in improved agricultural practices, bulk marketing and selected as a coffee nursery host farmer. He received the accompanying training and now owns a nursery facility. Furthermore he was trained in organizational management and mobilization techniques and was appointed farmer representative by his farmer organisation.

 

His business grew, as did the farmer group´s business. John Bosco has expanded his coffee acreage to 7 acres with 2500 productive trees, yielding a harvest of 1,600 kg Kiboko. To date, his earnings have doubled and he has constructed a better, more spacious and permanent residence for his family with an underground water storage tank. Furthermore, he was able to acquire additional land for rearing animals. His family now has a permanent supply of the staple matooke food and they can afford more than three meals per day.