On average, a coffee farmers in Burundi are around 25 years old and own between 25 and 50 trees. The average tree is around 20 years old, though in recent years farmers have been planting new trees, thanks to nursery programs. In the northern part of the country, washing stations tend to use a double-fermentation style, while in the central and southern part of the country, washing stations use a single a fermentation style and drying time on African raised beds is faster: 21 days (central) and 15 days (southern).

Today, Burundi’s coffee industry is fueled by 600,000 smallholders. Since the income from most smallholder farms supports entire families, close to 5 million people depend on the profits of smallholder coffee farms.  

Both state-owned and private actors drive Burundi’s coffee industry and play key roles as washing station management companies and exporters. State-owned companies are called Sogestals, short for “Sociétés de Gestions des Stations de Lavage” (Washing station management companies). Privately-owned companies can operate under a variety of different names.  

In concert with washing station management companies, washing station managers also play an important role in producing high quality specialty coffee. Managers oversee farmer education, aid in the implementation of good economic practices and help farmers implement best agricultural practices. They also collaborate with producers to ensure everyone has access to the necessary tools and inputs—and the knowledge of how to best use them.