Discover how Agriterra is transforming Ethiopian cooperatives by empowering youth through leadership training, business development, and sustainable agriculture.
Young people are stepping into leadership roles and shaping the future of Ethiopian cooperatives, thanks to Agriterra’s dedicated support. By fostering youth engagement in two primary cooperatives under the Bench Maji Forest Coffee Cooperative Union, Agriterra is driving tangible change, ensuring a sustainable and inclusive future for cooperative businesses in Ethiopia.
Transforming Janchu and Keberta Cooperatives
In 2023, Agriterra Ethiopia conducted a cooperative assessment to strengthen Janchu Eje Le Eje and Keberta Tigle Frie Women Multipurpose Primary Cooperatives in the Southwestern Region of Ethiopia. Since then, these cooperatives have seen remarkable growth and increased business efficiency.
Janchu Primary Cooperative, founded in 2013 with just 15 members, has expanded to 614 members, engaging in coffee production and marketing with value-added processes such as washing, drying, and hulling. Similarly, Keberta Primary Cooperative, established in 2014 with 59 female members, has grown to 555 members, with a majority of women. It is active in coffee, honey, and spice production while also offering input supply and pre-financing services.
Despite these successes, youth participation remained low, with young people primarily working as daily laborers. Recognizing the potential for deeper involvement, cooperative boards identified youth inclusion as a crucial step toward expanding business opportunities and boosting commodity value.
Empowering Youth Through Training and Business Innovation
To address this gap, Agriterra organised a three-day Youth Workshop from December 11-13, 2024, in Mizan-Aman town. The workshop facilitated discussions between cooperative leaders and young members, helping to identify challenges, interests, and new opportunities. With participation from an Agripool expert from the Netherlands and business advisors from Ethiopia and Rwanda, the event proved transformative.
Young members left the workshop motivated to take on leadership roles. Key outcomes included:
Janchu PC Youth Initiative: Development of a business case for coffee seedling production and distribution.
Keberta PC Youth Initiative: A focus on apiculture, with a commitment to managing 206 beehives for honey production.
Youth Councils Taking Action
1. Keberta PC Youth Council: Pioneering Apiculture Following the workshop, Keberta PC formed a structured Youth Council with 28 highly motivated members. The cooperative provided 147 beehives, which have since been successfully installed and colonized. In just two and a half months, the youth group has already begun harvesting honey, with each hive producing approximately 30kg of honey with wax. Keberta PC now collaborates with the Youth Council, processing raw honey for sale—a partnership that enhances both business sustainability and youth empowerment.
2. Janchu PC Youth Council: Scaling Coffee Seedling Production Janchu PC youth officially launched a coffee seedling business within the cooperative’s premises. With 35 members, they secured land for a nursery and received 3 kg of improved coffee seeds from the district Bureau of Agriculture. Since then, the youth council has established a governance structure, prepared seedbeds, and begun operations, selling seedlings to both cooperative members and external buyers.
A Future Shaped by Youth Leadership
By equipping young people with the tools and support they need, Agriterra is fostering a new generation of cooperative leaders in Ethiopia. The successes of Janchu and Keberta’s youth councils showcase the immense potential of youth-led business ventures in transforming cooperatives. With ongoing support and opportunities, Ethiopia’s young entrepreneurs are set to drive long-term growth, sustainability, and prosperity in their communities.
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