In Hopong coffee is a tool used to trigger a positive change in the community. For the last seven years, Indigo Mountain Coffee, founded by Khun Kyaw aids farmers to produce high quality specialty coffee. Growing specialty coffee is benefical to the community in more ways than one. Firstly, it enables farmers to become financially more secure given the political unrest in the country. It makes them more resilient than the others not growing coffee and they were able to witness this first hand especially during the pandemic. Coffee is being substituted for poppy across Myanmar and it helps the land, soil heal from the negative effects of poppy. It improves the soil by increasing its fertility, preventing erosion, and supporting a healthier ecosystem. In summary, Indigo Mountain Coffee has 4 key areas of impact in Hopong - economic and environmental development, innovating towards finding climate resilient solutions, and supporting more farmers in Myanmar to transition from opimum to coffee.

KHUN TUN LIN

“ Impact is ability of any business to invest in an idea and see how it affects it over a period of time. Impact can be positive or negative. For example, Indigo Mountain invested in the farmers to grow coffee in this region and were able to observe the drastic changes in their livelihoods due to such a decision.”

  • Achievements so far: They have been able to get 80% of Hopong to grow high quality coffee and enable them to earn reliable income making them much more resistant to adversity than farmers who don’t grow it.


    2024 update: We purchased additional coffee, not just high-end specialty grades, but also lower-scoring ones in the 81-82 range, to provide farmers with extra income and support.

    What the future holds: Indigo mountain wants to work with more farmers in helping them export their coffee. This needs to be achieved in a structured way since a lot of farmers are eager to become members here after seeing the positive impact they have created in the community but don’t necessarily have technical know-how.

  • Achievements so far: Farmers associated with Indigo mountains are seen as a source of inspiration by others in the neighboring cities, villages. They visit these farmers to learn more about the coffee production, know how and in an hope they too can earn a reliable income through coffee. These farmers also positively influence the locals to replicate good soil conditions which can be a significant step towards creating a resilient future

    2023 update: Ho Hwat farmer groups produce similar volumes with excellent quality despite rogue weather patterns including untimely rainfall.

    What the future holds: Raising awareness regarding the benefits of producing specialty coffee for the community and environment through workshops, lectures and communal learning sessions.

  • Achievements so far: Due to the farmers diligently and intently following the guidelines to produce coffee, they have been able to achieve predictable and similar production volumes each harvest year.

    2023 Updates: Rains last year made drying quite tough as they were quite high, sunny days were low so covered drying had to be done vs this year until now it looks quite good with weather. More sunny days so drying would be faster is anticipated. Farmers are still seen selling their cherries to Thailand to make quick cash and also farmers from Hopong region, their kids are trying to illegally enter Thailand and find jobs. Still quite some farmers in Hopong instead of focusing on processing, and creating a better product for export seem to stray away to Thailand and China to sell their beans. Bant Sawk usually harvest only in January/February vs normal harvest in Myanmar starts in November. They have been facing a lot of labor shortage this year. This group is also unable to accept newer members because of it.

    Hti Kham farmers grow quite some crops like turmeric, corn, ginger, cheroot leaf along with coffee but can't find a good market so it is sold locally. Hti kham is close to Bant Sawk and they are looking to move to the other side of the mountain to plant new coffee trees because now they face a lot of borer and coffee rust. So this group is planning to also move towards another part of the mountain to plant trees

    Ho Hwat - One of the only groups that have been consistently similar volumes irrespective of the weather, climate patterns last few years because they prune and maintain the trees very well as per Indigo mountain norms

    This season looks promising regarding harvest, and drying/processing due to the sun.

    What does the future hold: Finding climate resistant species to grow.

  • 2023 Update: Indigo Mountain received a donation of 3800 Euros as regenerative premium from Un:common coffee roasters. Once the harvest of 2024 ends, in 3rd week of April, Indigo Mountain will start training farmers on making compost, enroll farmers in organic certification program and put some part of this donation to use.

    What does the future hold: Developing pragmatic solutions to raise awareness about climate change amongst farmer groups in Hoppong. Learn about different species through the TSU network. A potential visit to India for the same. Setting up a central research center focusing on coffee varietals. Continue helping farmers maintain plant health throughout the year.