Kachipapa Farm is a 350-hectare, family run coffee farm situated just outside of Serenje in Zambia. The farm sits at an altitude of 1,450 meters above sea level. Coffee is grown in deep red sandy soils that produce high levels of nutrients and provide good drainage. There is 40 hectares of mature coffee producing trees and 20 hectares of young coffee trees that are expected to be in production in 2 years’ time.
All the coffee is under irrigation, meaning sufficient water throughout the dry periods. The climate in Serenje Zambia will normally have one wet season (November – April) and one dry season (May – October) with the hottest months being September to November. Average rainfall is around 1,200mm per annum.
The farm not only produces coffee but has also intercropped with macadamia’s, the trees are actively mulched by means of using the natural grass and anything that is pruned off the trees. This mulch helps retain moisture in the soil by slowing down evaporation, essential during the hot summer months. At Kachipapa Farm one of the main responsibilities is to improve the quality of life for the staff and the local community. There have been 25 new houses built for the permanent farm employees with recently installed new clean water piping systems providing the community with clean water. They are also able to fund the local school for teacher employment as well as provide medical assistance and malaria prevention to the local communities.
