Region: Aricha, Gedeo zone
Washing Station: Idido
Alt: 1900-2100 masl
Variety: Ethiopian Landraces
Process: fully washed – dried on raised beds
Aricha is a remote community in Ethiopia’s Yirgacheffe region. It is home to one of the oldest coffee growing traditions in the world.
To get to Aricha you have to fly to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia’s capital, then take a 30 minute local flight to the city of Hawassa in Sidamo. In Hawassa you
drive four hours on a paved road until reaching the Idido washing station in Yirgacheffe. In Aricha the paved road ends and the dirt roads begin.
Aricha’s terrain is rugged and mountainous, so distance to the individual farms depends on where on the mountain they are located. The closest
farms to the city are 20 minutes away by motorcycle and the furthest ones are an hour away.
Most farms have access to dirt roads, so at harvest time producers transport bags of cherry by motorcycle, horse, or donkey to the nearest collection
center. These bags then travel by truck to the central collection center in Adorsi. In general, transport between farms and collection centers is simple
enough. This changes during November and December’s rainy season, which intersects with harvest. During the rainy season, temperatures reach
25C/77F, with higher humidity than the rest of the year. These conditions are ideal for coffee plants but troublesome for logistical operations in the
field due to high chances of mud on dirt roads.
The producers of Aricha intercrop their coffee with native trees of the area like the false banana tree to shade and fertilize their fields. Since the
producers deliver all their coffee in cherry, the collection centers prepare and store organic compost and distribute it among the producers. Their
coffee is fermented between 48 and 72 hours in fermentation tanks then dried between four and five days on raised beds, based on climate.
The majority of producers here belong to the Gedeo culture and speak the Gedeo language. The traditions of their native culture are still very
present in producers’ daily life. For instance, birds and domestic animals like dogs and cats are highly respected in the Aricha area.
Life in Aricha can be idyllic in some ways, but equally complicated in others. Since many farms are remote, access to clean water, electricity, and
school for children is a constant challenge. That means children from the most distant farms often start working from a very young age.
Opportunities are very few in Aricha, but migrating to other cities is not a great option for young people in the area due to the large education gaps
between their region and the city. Many young people decide to stay on their parents' farms or buy neighboring farms and continue dedicating
themselves to coffee for the rest of their lives.