Abatraninkunga ba Sholi cooperative are based in the Muhanga region of central Rwanda. They formed in 2008 as a small association by 30 women farmers. It is now an autonomous cooperative boasting 2000 members. Caravan started working with this group in 2020. We buy both washed and natural processed coffees from from Sholi for our core blends, but this lot is a bit more special.

(PICTURED: THE SHOLI CARAVAN CUPPING COMPETITION, 2022)

Since 2021, Caravan and Sholi have held a collaborative competition amongst the many coop members. The aim of the competition is to encourage and reward the farmers who produce the best crop. Natural processed coffees from the group that score 87+ on the SCA scoring system are entered into the competition and cupped by both the Sholi quality team and the quality team at Caravan. The 15 highest-scoring coffees are then put into a blend, the Sholi Top Lot.

The farmers that produce the winning lots are awarded with a secondary payment, a cash premium for their coffee. In addition, each winner receives a goat - a reward requested by the cooperative themselves.  The competition – and the goats – have been well received among Sholi’s 750 members, which the cooperative staff says is helping to encourage excellent on-farm agricultural practices and investment into member’s farms.

(PICTURED: THE GOATS THAT WILL BE GIVEN AS REWARD FOR THE WINNING LOTS)

As a part of the Female Producer Programme, Caravan have also worked with the Sholi Cooperative to fund and launch an initiative which supports young women and mothers in the region. The programme, launched in collaboration with The Chain Collaborative, has proved successful in educating and equipping young women in particular with skills and training to generate an income in the coffee industry. 

(PICTURED: WOMEN OF THE SHOLI COOPERATIVE WITH THEIR HANDICRAFTS)

A key part of this project centres around creating alternative incomes in the coffee farming off-season. The coop are working to create a local marketplace where women can sell handicrafts that are handmade during these off seasons. As a special edition to this year's Sholi Top Lot release, we have purchased a range of these handicrafts from the cooperative, and will be gifting them with the first 100 kilo purchases of the Sholi Top Lot. 

You can shop the Top Lot by clicking here.