Kola Bolcha is a relatively new cooperative in the Agaro woreda of the Jimma Zone. Within Agaro, there is a small subregion known as Gera, and that’s where you’ll find this washing station.
Kola Bolcha falls under the Kata Muduga Union and geographically sits within a portion of the forest between two other washing stations whose names may be familiar: Duromina and Hunda Oli.
The Kola Bolcha cooperative has around 400 members, though that number will grow. The cooperative’s increasing experience and skills in producing amazing washed process coffee is a drawcard to new members seeking experience and also the higher earnings possible within the specialty coffee market.
Once again, in large part due to the efforts of Technoserve, a non-government organisation who have been working in East Africa to bring farmers the right training, processing facilities and services, needed can grow coffee for the specialty market and significantly boost their incomes.
Jimma, in the southwest of Ethiopia, was traditionally associated with lower commodity-grade coffee. With increased exposure to specialty coffee and education from partners such as Technoserve, the truly great potential of this area is beginning to be realised.
