2 - Wajamala - Indonesia 2023/24

My name is Marselina Walu; people call me Mama Lina. I am a single mother to my son who is currently in grade XI in Flores. Becoming a farmer is not my dream, I wanted to become an accountant, but apparently, fate says otherwise. Financial limitations hinder me from achieving these goals. Armed with a piece of land inherited from my parents, I tried to get involved in the world of agriculture in 2007. I chose to plant coffee. Initially, it was planted with secondary crops which of course at that time did not have a positive impact on improving the family's economy. In line with the Government’s program (NTT Provincial Plantation Service in 2007): expanding the Arabica coffee area with SL-795, my friends and I joined the Berdikari coffee farmer group, in Radabata village, Golewa sub-district, Ngada district. We were determined to change our agricultural lands to plantations. Our first coffee harvest was in 2013, but the price was disappointing, there was no selling point. We tried to collaborate with various parties, one of which is several local/national buyers, but our coffee is still categorized as below standard. But we didn’t give up hope. We made various efforts to improve. From cultivation, harvest, and post-harvest, several coffee observers starting from the Government (Ngada District Agricultural Service and NTT Provincial Agricultural Service), NGOs (Rikolto Indonesia), Flores Bajawa Arabica Coffee MPIG, banking (BI KPW NTT). We were involved in participating in various coffee festivals, and finally, after a very long struggle that drained energy and tears, we, especially me as a coffee farmer, had the opportunity to become one of the members of AKSI/SCAI and enjoy the good quality and price of coffee at the event. COE 2021 even though it is still ranked 25th. Praise God, we give abundant thanks to God Almighty.

My biggest hope is that by returning to the 2023-2024 COE Indonesia event, my coffee will again be enjoyed and loved by coffee lovers all over the world.

The post-harvest process that I carry out is predominantly full-washed, but there is also honey and natural.