"Salaam alaikum"
“Peace be with you”
- a common Arabic greeting in South Sudan
You may be surprised to learn that South Sudan has been recently confirmed as a centre of origin for Arabica coffee, alongside the more renowned Ethiopia. The largest and most diverse populations of wild Arabica are found in the cloud forests of South-West Ethiopia's highlands, but a smaller population does spread across the border to the Boma Plateau of South Sudan.
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About South Sudanese Coffee
The Boma Plateau has traditionally been home to wild Arabica. However climate change has drastically reduced the region’s suitability for Arabica to grow well.
Equatoria, South Sudan’s most southern region which lies close to the borders of the DRC and Uganda, has been the main area of focus for coffee cultivation initiatives in recent years. Coffee plantations also existed there in the mid-20th century and there was a strong history of production prior to the outbreak of civil war.
Cultivating an undervalued species
Excelsa coffee, a variety of Coffea liberica, is gaining attention in South Sudan for its potential to revitalize the local coffee industry and provide economic opportunities.
Historically, coffee farming in regions like Western Equatoria thrived until conflicts in the 1980s led to the abandonment and destruction of plantations. In response, initiatives such as the "Excelling in Excelsa" project have been launched to reintroduce coffee cultivation, focusing on the Excelsa variety. This project collaborates with over 1,000 smallholder farmers, emphasizing agroforestry and intercropping methods to enhance food security and sustainable coffee production.
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Are you a South Sudanese coffee producer?
If you're looking to import green coffee to the UK we'd love to work with you click the button below to fill out a contact form and we'll get in touch about how we can support you. You can also learn more about how our partnerships work here.
