Igamba AA

Igamba AA

The majority of farmers keep one or two pigs or cows and some poultry to support their income and provide sustenance. In addition to coffee, many grow maize, peanuts and beans, amongst other cash crops. As well as providing a second source of income, produce such as maize provides useful by-products like mulch for the coffee trees; locking in moisture on the high sloped contour farms. Similarly, the primary fertiliser for many farms in the region is manure from livestock, mixed with small amounts of NPK (known as Yara Java). Pruning is generally conducted twice a year during the harvest cycle. Healthy trees normally receive only light pruning, whilst unhealthy trees are heavily cut back to stimulate growth. When a coffee tree is no longer producing its desired quota, the tree will be cut right back and stumped, focusing on one side to allow new shoots to grow from the other. Primary varieties include Compact, Kent as well as other local varieties, with coffee seedlings and seeds distributed and shared between local farmers and neighbours.