East Timor


EAST TIMOR AIFU ARABICA and
EAST TIMOR MAUBESSE ARABICA

East Timor has regretfully been the origin of controversy during the last 25 years. As a Portuguese colony for hundreds of years, it produced as much as 45,000 tons of Arabica per annum. When they left a devastating civil war followed in 1974 after which the Indonesian government forcefully took control. More death and destruction followed for many years.

Currently East Timor has by far the lowest per capita income of the Indonesian Archipelago and except for very little fruits and vegetables, the only source of income is coffee. During years of devastating civil wars and social unrest the crop has shrunk to about 6,000 to 8,000 tons per year most of which is of inferior quality. Coffee trees are as high as 20 feet and fertilization, pruning and general care for coffee trees is completely non existent. During many years all the coffee was Dry Processed which resulted in low general quality out-turn. To make things even worse, during the years of Indonesian annexation and until 1994, coffee exports from East Timor were monopolized which resulted in a low return to coffee farmers.

This has all changed since 1994. With the help and expertise of the Holland Coffee Group, the coffee monopoly was broken and washing stations were built all around the coffee producing areas in East Timor. We have, slowly and painstakingly, improved qualities and exportable production. Every year since 1994 the washed coffee production was double that of the year before and during 1999 production levels will be over 2,000 tons.

As a result of the Holland Coffee Group's introduction of East Timor Coffee into the Specialty market, farmers have flourished. During 1998 farmers were paid 15 times more than before 1994. To assist in the development of this project we have visited East Timor at least once a year since 1994 and have seen a marked improvement since then. Regretfully the living standards are so low that for decades to come, the East Timorese people will need your and our assistance. This year we are glad to report that 12 new small health clinics are in the process of being built with our assistance to provide for the most basic health care. The program will be fully funded by the coffee production each year, but initially each clinic has to be funded by donations of $30,000 each, for which we actively request buyers' participation. Holland Coffee funded two clinics this year, but we need substantially more.

The quality of the Washed Arabica has vastly improved during the last five years. We are proud to recommend the usage of this coffee particularly as one of the few true acidic washed Indonesian Arabicas and as possible substitute or in addition to Papua New Guineas and Java Arabicas. We believe that the coffee has the quality for varietal application as well as in blends. The coffee plants are of Typica origin only, fully shaded which produces the best and largest of green coffee beans. The cup is sweet, medium to highly acidic with good body, creamy and an aromatic finish. By default Washed East Timor Arabica coffee is the largest producer in the world for Certified Organic. All coffee from East Timor has not been fertilized for the last 25 years.

From the 35,000 coffee farmers in East Timor, over 50% now deliver coffee to the washing stations. Our objectives are:

	To raise that number closer to 100%.
	To increase quality even further.
	To continue to increase the living standards of the general population of East Timor.
	To introduce proper pruning, planting and general care of coffee trees.
	To increase the total size of the crop to levels of the early 1970's as we believe that in the future the world will need more good quality Arabicas, in general, and, as this will significantly increase the welfare of the East Timorese people.

YOU CAN HELP: During 1999, coffee was turned away from our projects because of lack of market and capacity. Therefore we need your assistance in supporting this project and the East Timorese population. By just buying a little or a lot of East Timor coffee you can and will directly contribute to the welfare of these impoverished farmers. The coffee is reasonably priced and has the potential to add to your variety of great coffees!

We look forward to sharing our excitement with you - please call or send e-mail...

FACTS AND STATS
Population: 650,000 people
Capital: Dili with 200,000 people
Coffee Export: 6,000 - 8,000 tons
Cultivated Areas: wild and some plantations
Harvest: May through October
Specialty Preparations: Washed Organic Aifu and Maubesse
Botanical Varieties: 100% Typica variety