In Soddo Zuriya Woreda of the South Ethiopia Region, women farmers from five kebeles are transforming their livelihoods through climate-smart coffee production. Thanks to Women Win – Free Fund grant. This change began with targeted training on Climate Smart Agriculture (CSA) for the coffee sector, aimed at strengthening resilience, improving productivity, and promoting sustainable land management.
Before the intervention, many women farmers faced challenges related to poor seedling survival, soil degradation, irregular rainfall, and limited technical knowledge on modern coffee nursery management. As a result, coffee yields were low and income opportunities remained limited.
Through structured training and hands-on demonstrations, women farmers gained practical skills in coffee seedling preparation, site selection, soil fertility management, mulching, shade management, water conservation, and climate-resilient farming practices. Special emphasis was placed on women-led nursery management and collective learning at kebele level.
Following the training, women farmers in the five kebeles successfully established coffee nurseries and planted improved coffee seedlings on their farms. The seedlings are now growing well, showing strong survival rates, healthy leaf development, and resistance to climate stress, even during periods of variable rainfall. Farmers report visible improvements compared to previous planting seasons.
Beyond improved seedling performance; the initiative has enhanced women’s confidence and decision-making roles in coffee production. Women farmers are now applying CSA practices independently, sharing knowledge within their communities, and actively participating in local coffee value chains.
This success demonstrates that investing in women farmers and climate-smart agriculture can significantly improve coffee productivity, strengthen climate resilience, and contribute to sustainable livelihoods in Soddo Zuriya Woreda. The positive results from these five kebeles provide a strong foundation for scaling up CSA-based coffee interventions across the region.
