Through the CULTIVAFE Project, local farmers are stepping into a future where sustainable practices, innovation, and strong partnerships open doors to global markets. With youth and women at the forefront, this initiative is not only improving livelihoods but also shaping a resilient coffee landscape for generations to come.
In the heart of Indonesia’s coffee belt—West Lampung and Tanggamus—the livelihoods of coffee farmers are increasingly under pressure due to a combination of agronomic, economic, and social challenges.
Low productivity and inconsistent quality continue to hinder farmer incomes. Outdated farming practices, limited access to resources, and insufficient technical support have resulted in poor farm management. This has led to coffee yields that fall far below potential, especially as climate change intensifies unpredictable weather patterns. The lack of standardized post-harvest processes also causes fluctuating quality, particularly for arabica coffee, making it harder for farmers to compete in premium markets.
Compliance with the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) has also emerged as a new and complex challenge. From December 2024, coffee exports to the EU must be traceable to plots that are proven deforestation-free and compliant with local laws. For smallholders in West Lampung and Tanggamus many of whom farm on small, fragmented plots with unclear or undocumented land tenure, meeting these requirements is daunting. The lack of digital tools for traceability, limited awareness of EUDR standards, and the cost of compliance measures risk excluding small farmers from the EU market. Without targeted support, these regulations could inadvertently marginalize smallholders, reducing their market access and income opportunities.
Low and unpredictable incomes are another pressing concern. Smallholder coffee farmers often struggle to secure a living income as they face volatile market prices and the ongoing effects of climate phenomena like La Niña and El Niño. These conditions jeopardise not only economic stability, but also long-term resilience.
Meanwhile, youth participation in coffee farming is on the decline. Younger generations increasingly seek opportunities in urban areas, leaving fewer successors to sustain the sector. Without targeted support and innovation, coffee production risks becoming a legacy of the past.
Gender inequality also persists throughout the coffee value chain. Women are underrepresented and often excluded from decision-making roles, while also facing unequal access to land and resources. Moreover, concerns around child labour and informal labour practices highlight the need for more inclusive and ethical approaches to coffee production.
Together, these challenges, exacerbated by the complexities of global market regulations like the EUDR underscore the need for systemic change: one that uplifts farming communities, ensures environmental sustainability, and brings new generations and voices into the future of coffee.
To tackle the intertwined challenges facing coffee farmers in West Lampung and Tanggamus, the CULTIVAFE Project takes an integrated approach that combines capacity building, innovation, and collaboration. Farmers receive hands-on training in climate-smart agriculture, agroforestry, and improved post-harvest techniques to raise productivity and ensure consistent quality, directly addressing low yields and market competitiveness. To counter youth disengagement, the project facilitate platforms, such as coffee camps and entrepreneurship initiatives, that make coffee farming more attractive to younger generations. Women’s empowerment is strengthened through targeted support that enhances their roles in decision-making, access to resources and potential alternative home business.
The project also focuses on traceability and regulatory compliance, helping farmers prepare for the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) by promoting land verification and documentation, deforestation-free agriculture practices, and traceability systems. This prevents market exclusion while opening access to premium markets. Collaboration with private companies, PT Asia Makmur, CV Antara Saudara, and Olam Food Ingredients, ensures that farmers are connected to inclusive value chains, benefiting from stable market linkages and shared investments in sustainability. By aligning these interventions with farmers’ needs and global market requirements, CULTIVAFE builds both community resilience and a sustainable coffee sector.
Although the CULTIVAFE Project is still in its early stages, having started less than a year ago, it is already laying a strong foundation for long-term impact in West Lampung and Tanggamus. In 2025, the project successfully trained 2,000 smallholder robusta coffee farmers on good agricultural practices (GAP) and agroforestry, while also carrying out farmer land verification to support traceability and future market access. These initial efforts are crucial steps in addressing the challenges of low productivity, inconsistent quality, and regulatory compliance faced by farmers in the region.
On the regulatory front, farmers were introduced to the requirements of the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) and began adopting deforestation-free practices as part of their farm management. To strengthen this process, CULTIVAFE collaborates with Forest Management Units (FMUs) and local government to support Indonesia’s E‑STDB (Surat Tanda Daftar Budidaya Elektronik) program. E‑STDB is a national digital registry that records smallholder plantation data, including geolocation, land legality, and planting information, serving as official proof of cultivation. This integration is crucial because E‑STDB not only facilitates EUDR compliance through improved traceability but also enables farmers to access government support, financing schemes, and sustainable market opportunities.
In addition, youth and women engagement has been a strong focus from the beginning. CULTIVAFE supported the Coffee Camp initiative in collaboration with local youth group DSA Bumi Sekala Bekhak, creating a platform where young people can connect with the coffee sector—learning about both on-farm production and post-harvest processing. This initiative inspires youth to see opportunities in coffee beyond farming, fostering entrepreneurship and innovation in the value chain. Women have also been increasingly included in training sessions and encouraged to take leadership roles, ensuring their active participation in decision-making and income-generating activities.
Looking forward, CULTIVAFE will continue to:
Through these actions, CULTIVAFE is positioning coffee farmers to become more resilient, competitive, and connected to global value chains, while supporting Indonesia’s transition to sustainable and deforestation-free agriculture.
The success of the CULTIVAFE Project is built on strong collaboration among donors, implementing partners, and private sector actors who share a vision for a sustainable and inclusive coffee sector in Lampung.
JDE Peet’s (Donor)
As the main funder, JDE Peet’s drives the project’s mission to enhance sustainability and inclusivity across its coffee supply chains. By investing in farmer training, traceability, and gender and youth empowerment, JDE Peet’s ensures that smallholders in Lampung are prepared to meet global market demands while improving their livelihoods.
Rikolto (Implementing Partner)
Rikolto leads the implementation of CULTIVAFE on the ground, leveraging its expertise in sustainable agriculture, inclusive business models, and multi-stakeholder facilitation. Rikolto coordinates training, farmer land verification, and EUDR compliance efforts while fostering youth and women participation in the coffee value chain.
Private Sector Partners – PT Asia Makmur, CV Antara Saudara, and Olam Food Ingredients
These private companies play a crucial role in linking smallholder farmers to markets through inclusive and sustainable sourcing practices. They provide market access, co-investment in farmer support activities, and help establish traceable supply chains that meet international sustainability standards.
Forest Management Units (FMUs) and Local Governments
Government institutions collaborate with CULTIVAFE to integrate farmer data into Indonesia’s E‑STDB system, supporting legal land registration, deforestation-free verification, and regulatory alignment with both national policies and the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR). Their involvement ensures that project outcomes contribute to broader environmental and economic development goals.
Together, these partners create a powerful coalition that combines funding, technical expertise, policy support, and market linkages, essential for building a resilient, competitive, and sustainable coffee sector in Lampung.
