Nyamirima

About Nyamirima 

Based in Ibanda, south west Uganda, Nyamirima is a Fairtrade certified, farmer-owned co-operative that supports over 500 growers of Arabica and Robusta coffee, from cultivation through to processing and market access.

As environmental and regulatory requirements continue to evolve, Nyamirima has taken significant steps to protect future market opportunities. The co-operative is now compliant with the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), having completed the mapping of all member farms and production plots. Supported by the Uganda Coffee Development Authority and Fairtrade International, this work has improved traceability and helps verify that coffee is produced without contributing to deforestation.

Achieving EUDR compliance helps ensure farmers can continue accessing international markets while strengthening the co-operative's competitiveness. 

Farmer, Justine Kemigisha Kyarimpa, said: 

“The training from the co-operative has increased coffee production which has increased family income. It has helped us to mitigate climate change that has been a challenge. 

Shared Interest and Nyamirima 

Since becoming a Shared Interest customer in 2024, Nyamirima has used finance to strengthen its operations and maintain a
reliable market for members' coffee. Access to working capital is particularly important for agricultural co-operatives, which often need to purchase crops from farmers long before receiving payment from international buyers. Shared Interest finance helps bridge this gap, enabling Nyamirima to buy coffee from farmers when they need to sell, ensuring prompt payment for their harvest. 

General Manager Jane Kafura, said: 

“The impact of Shared Interest finance has helped the co-operative to enter the export market. It has increased the coffee volumes purchased from farmers, hence increased sales and profits. The finance helps farmers to be paid cash on coffee delivery. It also has improved the credibility of the co-operative, attracting other financiers and buyers.”

Financing growth for Uganda's coffee farmers 

Nyamirima also provides training on Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) and promotes climate-smart farming techniques to improve yields and strengthen resilience. 

Jane explained the challenges farmers are facing: 

"Production is being affected by erratic weather patterns, particularly prolonged droughts, which reduce yields and negatively impact crop quality. To address these challenges, we are partnering with Solidaridad to strengthen farmers' resilience to climate change. These efforts include promoting agroforestry and increasing tree-planting to help farmers adapt to changing weather conditions."

The benefits extend beyond the co-operative's membership. During harvesting and processing seasons, Nyamirima creates employment opportunities for members of the wider community, particularly young people, providing additional income and contributing to the local economy. 

Mable Ninsiima, a coffee farmer working with Nyamirima, told us that the good prices and market access provided by the co-operative, enables her to sell all of the coffee she produces. 

Mable said: "I received premiums from my coffee that was sold to Fairtrade. This has allowed my family to increase income ... also, the money that has been received as premium has helped me to mulch my farm, where I expect a high yield this [harvest] season." 

Farmer, Itungo John Bosco, said: “I hope my coffee production will increase because of the new incentives the co-operative is giving us. Also, there will be continuous increases in yield per tree.” 

Nyamirima demonstrates how access to finance can help co-operatives grow, invest and create lasting impact. By connecting farmers to markets, providing practical support and building resilience, the co-operative is helping its members create stronger livelihoods and opportunities for the future. 

EUDR aims to ensure that products sold in or exported from the EU are not linked to deforestation or forest degradation. Businesses must prove timber, cocoa, coffee, soy, cattle, palm oil and rubber, are legally produced and sourced from deforestation-free land.