GIF invests in Mountain Harvest to improve livelihoods of smallholder coffee farmers

We are proud to announce that GIF is providing a $500,000 loan to Mountain Harvest, a specialised Ugandan coffee processor and exporter. This investment will help transform the coffee value chain into a sustainable, inclusive, and climate resilient industry in Uganda.

Closing the value gap for smallholder farmers

In Uganda, the coffee sector is a primary economic engine, yet 40% of the population lives below the international poverty line. While high-altitude regions like Mount Elgon offer ideal growing conditions, smallholder farmers often struggle with low yields and depressed value capture.

Many farmers sell unprocessed coffee at low prices to meet immediate cash needs, forfeiting 10% to 30% in price premiums commanded by specialty markets. Mountain Harvest was founded to bridge this gap, linking farmers directly to high-value global markets to ensure they capture a fairer share of every cup sold.

Strengthening livelihoods through regenerative agriculture

Mountain Harvest's model goes beyond simple trading; it embeds regenerative agriculture directly into its supply chain. Through targeted technical support, including agronomy training, improved post-harvest handling, and micro-loans, farmers are transitioning to high quality specialty coffee production.

This approach builds climate resilience by:

• Promoting climate-smart practices like agroforestry, mulching, and trenching to protect yields against erratic rainfall and rising temperatures
• Facilitating income diversification by helping farmers integrate macadamia, avocado, and livestock into their farming systems to stabilise household earnings.
• Securing premiums averaging 20% to 30% above local market prices, effectively raising the price floor for rural families.

Empowering women and youth

Mountain Harvest is a significant driver of gender and youth inclusion in the coffee trade. The company has successfully grown the proportion of women selling coffee through its groups to over 30%.

They are also tackling the "aging farmer"crisis, where the average farmer is 60+ years old, by training "coffee entrepreneurs". These young professionals provide field-level support and sourcing, creating career pathways for the next generation of agricultural leaders.

Scaling for the future

GIF's investment provides essential trade financing to procure coffee cherries and parchment, bridging the gap between farmer supply and global buyer demand. This capital will enable Mountain Harvest to scale toward its goal of working with 5,000 farmers by 2030.

By supporting Mountain Harvest's transition to higher-margin central processing, GIF aims to increase the incomes of at least 500 farmers and catalyse further capital for the Ugandan specialty coffee sector.

Mountain Harvest CEO, Kenneth Barigye, said:

"With GIF's partnership, we are able to scale our operations while building a stronger, more efficient supply chain. This positions Mountain Harvest for growth while ensuring that increased value continues to reach the farmers at the core of our model."

GIF Investment Director and deal lead, Xiu Jing, said:

"Mountain Harvest has built a model grounded in strong farmer relations, fair pricing, and high-quality coffee. We are excited to partner with them and support the scale-up of their farmer ecosystem and broaden the adoption of regenerative agricultural practices across the region, demonstrating what responsible coffee trade can look like at scale."