Kisunga, D.R.Congo

Kisunga is one of the washing stations operated by Virunga Coffee Company, a project established in 2012 to improve coffee quality and increase income for thousands of smallholder farmers in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. The project is built on three key pillars: improving production through good agricultural practices, continuous farmer training to enhance quality, and obtaining internationally recognised certifications to access better markets. Today, more than 11,000 farmers are part of this system, supported by field agronomists and with access to millions of new seedlings distributed each year. Founded in 2021, Kisunga is one of the most recent washing stations within the project. It is located in the Nord-Kivu region, near Virunga National Park, an area with excellent conditions for specialty arabica production thanks to its high altitude, consistent rainfall, and fertile volcanic soils. Despite this potential, the region has historically faced major infrastructure challenges, making both production and export of high-quality coffee difficult. The project addresses these issues through local investment and direct farmer support. Ripe cherries are handpicked and delivered to the washing station, where they undergo careful sorting before pulping. The coffee is then fermented for 18 to 24 hours depending on climatic conditions, followed by thorough washing and density grading in clean water channels. The parchment is then dried on raised African beds for 12 to 18 days, with constant attention through regular turning and protection from excessive sun, rain, and humidity. Once properly dried, the coffee is transported to Butembo for dry milling, final sorting, and preparation for export.