In the highlands of Desa Sejahtera Astra Bajawa, Kopi Bajawa has achieved a significant milestone by entering the export market in Thailand, with an export value exceeding IDR 1.65 billion. This achievement is the result of the deep partnership between local farming communities, the two enterprise units – PT Rumah Kopi Bajawa and Koperasi Produsen Kopi Ekoheto Sejahtera – and institutional support via the programs of IPB University and PT Astra International Tbk. Through this model, local farmers gain stronger institutional structures, access to international-quality production standards, and the capacity to participate in global value chains – not just as producers, but as empowered economic actors.
Beyond the economic figures, this story is about hope and community autonomy. By mastering the full chain from cultivation to export, farmers in six villages in Bajawa – including Wawowae, Mukuvoka, Ngoranale, Bolonga, and Bowali – improved productivity and quality of Arabica coffee to meet international standards. The project fosters generational renewal, with younger farmers like Bernard Suryanto Langoday and Philipus Donnie Kabe leading training and mentoring efforts. Their success conveys a larger insight: when agricultural communities pair quality production with institutional empowerment and clear access to markets, they cultivate not just coffee but resilience, dignity, and sustainable livelihoods.
