Rwanda:
This is fertilizer season. Due to the high cost of fertilizer and government system for distribution, farmers do not receive enough fertilizer! A few farmers have reported to Aritsan they are getting about 31g of fertilizer per tree, when 200g per tree is the recommended amount.
Fortunately, pesticide distribution seems to be better. Farmers are receiving enough. In coops like Kopakama, the field officers support application of pesticide at members' farms using pumps that are worn like backpacks, (see photo right).
Ethiopia:
Harvest is well underway in most of Ethiopia now. We learned from Dehab Mesfin Bitewlign, our source for Kaffa region coffee, that cherry prices continue to be high. Last year the cost of red cherry was ETB 25-35 / kg cherry, and this year it is being sold at ETB 55.00/kg. This is just the start of the buying season. She's confident cherry prices will go up as the season goes on and competition increases.
