Ato Yidnekachew Seleshi is a 26-year-old farmer in West Guji, Hambella Wamena woreda. He started his own coffee business in 2015 fresh out of university. He is a third generation coffee producer, with his grandfather (86) working in the sector for the past 52 years. Currently, Yidnekachew works with 180 outgrowers on 270 hectares and produces 170,000 kilograms of natural dry specialty coffee. His major buyers are ECX and exporters in Addis Ababa. His coffee scored 85.39.
“This type of competition promotes the country and our exceptional coffee. Compared to the quality and variety, we have not done much to market our coffee,” said Yidnekachew. “We should promote our producers, and their specific locations, and I believe this competition will help us achieve more. It will bring good prices, encourages positive competition, and supports farmers to produce quality.”
