Visit to the Heart of Timor-Leste’s Coffee Sector

As part of NAPP’s ongoing commitment to strengthening Small Producer Organizations (SPOs) and fostering robust market linkages, Erwin Novianto- Regional General Manager of Southeast Asia and the Pacific along with Nestor Josur- Program Consultant conducted a strategic field visit to Timor-Leste from 23–25 June 2025. The trip centered on deepening engagement with SPO members and boards, reviewing Coffee Development Plan (CDP) project progress, and exploring growth opportunities with key traders and market actors.

From Struggle to Sustainability- Empowering Farmers through Coffee Quality Training at Aileu

The visit kicked off with a hands-on coffee quality training session led by local expert Natalino de Jesus Ximenes covering sessions on the entire coffee quality value chain. Held in Aileu, the session involved around 15 farmers (including 5 women) from the villages of Fahisoi and Maumeta.

Just a few years ago, many of the farmers lived under the strain of an unfair market system. As non-members of C-CAT, they were forced to sell their coffee cherries at the lowest prices, dictated by free-market buyers with little regard for quality or fairness. This left farming families struggling to meet even their basic needs such as access to healthcare, proper education for their children, and reliable infrastructure.

Curriculum: From Cherry to Cup

Selective Harvesting
Farmers learned how to identify perfectly ripe red cherries, with a focus on improving consistency and minimizing the inclusion of overripe or underripe cherries.

Manual Pulping
Demonstrations were conducted using Fairtrade Premium-funded hand pulpers, emphasizing cleanliness, safety, and efficient water use during processing.

Fermentation Techniques
Participants were trained in controlled fermentation of de-pulped beans to enhance acidity and clarity. They also learned to recognize signs of under- and over-fermentation to prevent spoilage.

Washing & Drying
Best practices were shared for washing fermented beans and drying them on raised beds or tarpaulins. Farmers used moisture meters to ensure beans achieved the optimal 10–12% dryness level.

Parchment Grading
Farmers practiced visual and tactile methods for sorting out defective beans, using grading sieves and defect counters to improve overall quality.

Cupping Session
Small batches of coffee were roasted and tasted, allowing farmers to evaluate aroma, acidity, body, and aftertaste. This session helped connect processing practices with flavor outcomes and pricing potential.

Tools of the Trade
Key equipment included Brix meters to measure sugar content and estimate cherry ripeness, moisture meters to meet drying standards, and sorting tables for defect removal and visual quality control.

Coffee Development Plan (CDP): Growing Roots for Future Harvests

The training was followed by a visit to the Coffee Nursery in Aileu-Villa, one of three nurseries funded under the Fairtrade Coffee Development Plan, which aims to rejuvenate coffee farms and contribute to climate resilience. Highlights:

• Well-maintained nursery with clear potential to support replanting and rejuvenation efforts.
• Need for enhanced documentation and tracking to evaluate long-term impact on productivity and quality.

Project Overview

• Target: 5,000 coffee trees and 2,000 shade trees to support reforestation and coffee productivity.
• Location: Aileu municipality, a highland area with optimal climate for Arabica coffee.
• Variety Planted: Híbrido de Timor, known for its resistance to rust and adaptability to local soils.

Progress to Date:

• 3,000+ coffee seedlings have already been propagated and are thriving.
• 1,000 additional seedlings and 2,000 shade trees will be planted by the end of the planting season.
• Distribution Timeline: November 2025 to coincide with the beginning of the rainy season, ensuring successful transplanting.

Community Engagement

Local community members are not just recipients—they are active implementers:

• Villagers helped construct and maintain the nursery beds.
• Youth and women’s groups have been engaged in watering, pest control, and potting.
• Farmers view the nursery as a shared asset and have committed to co-managing its upkeep.

“This project is a model for participatory agriculture. When local people take ownership, the results go beyond targets—they build resilience,” said the field coordinator.

Gaps & Recommendations

While the nursery is well-managed, the visit highlighted the need for:

• Improved monitoring systems to track seedling survival and coffee yield post-distribution.
• Expansion of the model to additional districts.
• Incorporation of organic composting and integrated pest management for sustainable growth.

Key Outcomes:

• Farmers have reported tripled incomes, from ~$0.30/kg (cherries) to ~$3.40/kg (parchment).
• Participants gained confidence and new identity as quality-driven producers.
• Training created a peer learning network, where farmers agreed to share knowledge with neighbors.

Strengthening Market Linkages through Strategic Stakeholder Engagements

During the visit to Dili, the Regional General Manager held a series of productive meetings with key market actors—OLAM/OFI, C-HKO, AFES, C-CAT, and Timor Global—to explore opportunities for supply chain collaboration, certification support, and market alignment. These engagements revealed strong momentum and growing interest among traders such as OLAM, AFES, and Timor Global to expand their involvement in Fairtrade, signaling promising potential for scaling Fairtrade’s presence and impact in Timor-Leste.

Strategic Recommendations

To strengthen Fairtrade impact in Timor-Leste, key strategic actions are recommended. Training should be expanded across all six districts with regular refreshers to improve farmer skills. Nursery monitoring must be enhanced to track seedling success and support long-term productivity. Youth engagement should be promoted through education and leadership roles in cooperatives.

Additionally, market linkages can be strengthened through storytelling, traceability, and digital promotion to boost visibility of Timor-Leste coffee. Finally, SPOs need continued support in financial management, member services, and certification compliance to build strong, sustainable organizations.

This mission underscored the deep potential of Timor-Leste’s coffee sector. With robust project design, active local ownership, and trader engagement, the country is poised to become a leader in ethical, high-quality coffee.

Through the CDP nursery and Coffee Quality Training, Timorese farmers are not just growing better coffee—they’re growing better futures.

One cherry. One training. One cooperative. At a time.