🇺🇬 Uganda
Page updated: @November 28, 2024
Looking for more recent information? Check out the Producer Updates section for the latest news from Agri Evolve.
Contents
- Contents
- Location
- History
- Operations and Impact
- Environmental and Social Impact
- Community Development Initiatives
- Marketing Assets
- Producer Updates
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Agri Evolve is a profit-for-purpose agribusiness based in the Rwenzori Mountains of Uganda, specializing in coffee production, processing, and export. Founded in 2016, the company supports smallholder farmers by providing resources, training, and market access, with the goal of improving coffee quality, increasing farmer income, and promoting sustainable agricultural practices. Agri Evolve works with approximately 2,000 farmers across Uganda’s Kasese District and is committed to building a positive social and environmental impact in the region.
Location
History
Agri Evolve’s origins trace back to 2010 when Johnny Rowland, then a tropical agriculture student, moved to Uganda and began working at a Rural Development Centre in Kasese. This centre provided agricultural support to local farmers, offering Rowland his first look into rural farming challenges. Here he observed the lack of access to fair market prices and efficient processing facilities, which led to poor-quality coffee and low incomes for farmers.
Motivated by these experiences, Rowland founded Agri Evolve in 2016 as a coffee collection point in the Rwenzori Mountains. This initial operation aimed to pay farmers better prices and ensure prompt payment, setting a foundation of trust in the community.
Recognising the need for better processing infrastructure, the following year they invested in the equipment for processing, enabling Agri Evolve to control coffee quality through washing and drying, which increased the coffee’s market value.
Over time, the station expanded into a full-scale processing facility, bringing new economic stability and job opportunities to the community.
Operations and Impact
Agri Evolve operates as a profit-for-purpose business, meaning that profits are reinvested to support local farmers and community development projects. The company has invested in processing equipment, demonstration farms, and technical expertise to enhance the quality and marketability of Rwenzori coffee. Agri Evolve’s facilities include advanced washing stations, mechanical dryers, and greenhouses, enabling high standards in coffee processing.
Agri Evolve works with approximately 2,000 smallholder farmers in the region, offering fair pricing and bonuses for quality produce, as well as covering transportation costs. Farmers are trained in best practices, focusing on improved yield, quality, and environmental conservation.
In 2022, Agri Evolve completed construction on the Nyabirongo Processing Station, one of Uganda’s largest and most advanced coffee facilities. Equipped for both wet and dry processing, the station streamlines coffee production, eliminating the need for off-site milling and creating new employment opportunities in the area. Agri Evolve has also established multiple buying centers across the Rwenzori Mountains, providing accessible market points for farmers and reinforcing the company’s long-term presence in the region.
Environmental and Social Impact
Agri Evolve is committed to environmental conservation and community well-being. The company is tackling deforestation and promoting sustainable agriculture through initiatives such as:
- Energy-efficient stoves: Distributed to over 2,400 households to reduce firewood use and prevent further deforestation in the Rwenzori region.
- Shade tree planting: Agri Evolve cultivates over 130,000 native tree seedlings in their nurseries each year. These shade trees are provided to farmers to create a better growing environment for coffee plants and to combat deforestation.
- Coffee seedling distribution: To support the long-term sustainability of coffee farming, Agri Evolve provides SL14 and SL28 coffee seedlings to farmers, encouraging the replacement of older, lower-yield trees with more productive, disease-resistant varieties.
In 2023, Agri Evolve earned B Corp certification, achieving an impact score of 81.5, which reflects the company’s dedication to ethical business practices, social responsibility, and environmental sustainability.
Community Development Initiatives
Agri Evolve’s efforts extend beyond coffee. The company has introduced a range of community development projects focused on education, economic empowerment, and sustainability:
- Education and training: Agri Evolve trains farmers on quality control, sustainable farming practices, and financial literacy, empowering them to increase their income and productivity.
- Employment and empowerment: As the largest employer in the region, Agri Evolve supports over 80 employees directly and engages hundreds more farmers. The company’s dedication to fair employment practices and staff development has bolstered economic stability and job opportunities throughout the Rwenzoris.
- Rural Sourcing Management (RSM) App: To streamline communication with farmers and track harvest data, Agri Evolve uses the RSM app, which allows farmers to receive real-time value estimates for their coffee and access additional support, such as microloans.
Marketing Assets
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