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Winds Japan 2-11-5 Sakurashinmachi, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo 154-0015 Japan Telephone: +81-3-5451-5400 Facsimilie: +81-3-5451-5401 www.peace-winds.org meet@peace-winds.org |
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| Top Message from chairperson Summary of 2004 Iraq Mongolia Indonesia East Timor Sierra Leone Liberia Afghanistan Iran Nigata Strengthening Ourselves and Our Civil Society Major Activities in FY2004 Organizational Time Line Organizational Structure Financial Statement PWJ English Top |
The
Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste East
Timor gained its independence in 2002. However, its road to economic independence
is still uncertain. Peace Winds Japan (PWJ) has continued its assistance in East
Timor since the plebiscite in 1999. In particular, since 2003, PWJ has focused
on improving the quality of coffee cultivated in Letefoho County, Ermera District,
in order to support the economic self-sustainability of coffee producers. In FY2004,
PWJ implemented a community support program, emphasizing the increase of yields,
diversification of crops and the establishment of a producers' association. Currently,
coffee is East Timor's primary export product with the highlands of Letefoho being
suitable for growing coffee. However, technical assistance by PWJ was important
because, due to a lack of contact with international markets, the producers were
not versed in the refining techniques that meet the preferences of consumers in
countries such as Japan. In FY2004, the number of participating farmers increased
from 35 to 135, and the production volume reached 20 tons, which was eight times
greater than the 2.5 tons of the first year. Coffee beans are purchased by PWJ
as a fair trade product at a fair price, so the income of participating farmers
is increasing. In Japan, the coffee quality has received high ratings from experts.
 In addition
to the technical assistance for coffee refining techniques, PWJ has initiated
support for farm management. In March 2004, a coffee expert was invited from Japan
to conduct workshops. After the October harvest, full-scale technical assistance
for farm management during the coffee off-season was provided. This included trimming
of coffee plant branches, collar pruning that involves the cutting of old trunks
to encourage the growth of new branches, weeding, and raising of coffee seedlings.
PWJ's support currently covers all processes ranging from coffee cultivation to
harvesting, refining, exporting and marketing. Farming support aims to improve the current situation whereby most of the income gained by coffee production is used to purchase food. A gmodel farmh was established for the purpose of conducting experimental vegetable cultivation. Despite the severe soil and environmental conditions, good results are gradually being achieved with an improvement in the soil, as well as the production of organic compost from coffee fruit and shells, and the preparation of an annual cultivation plan. In October 2004, a farming workshop was held to discuss the activities carried out on the model farm over the past year. This provided a learning opportunity for a number of farmers. Having supported the formation of a coffee producers' association, "Cafe Tatamailau"*, in 2003, PWJ plans to work to further consolidate the organization and train its personnel, so that the association can become independent and the coffee producers can develop the skills to improve their lives through their own efforts. *Tatamailau means the highest mountain peak. PWJ and the producers chose this name for the association to encourage production of the highest quality coffee in East Timor. |
