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Abdueli and Elizabeth Mbise
PendoSpecialty Coffee Growers
“My greatest achievement,” Elizabeth says, “has been to give my children the gift of education. It has been my dream since becoming a parent.”
This modest dream, however, used to be out of reach for many smallholder coffee farmers in Tanzania.
Five years ago, the Mbise family had to sell off livestock and other assets to keep their eldest son, Elineema, in high school. “Most of our income comes from coffee. Coffee prices were very low then – we had to make many sacrifices,” recalls Elizabeth.
Their struggles led the Mbise’s and other concerned farmers to establish Pendo Specialty Coffee Growers in 2004. They learned about the fast-growing specialty coffee market from TechnoServe, a nonprofit organization, and saw an opportunity to increase their income by improving quality.
The investment paid off, and in 2005 Pendo farmers made their first sale to Peet’s. “We received the highest prices in the area,” she says. This sent a strong message to farmers about the importance of quality. Pendo has been a consistent supplier to Peet’s ever since.
Thanks to higher prices, Elineema finished high school and has gone on to college. Their eldest daughter, Hope, is now starting her college applications.
Fewer financial concerns have allowed Elizabeth to focus on her hobbies. Beautiful blooms from her large flower garden adorn their new home and she serves as a volunteer health counselor in the community.
“As farmers and parents, much has changed in the past couple years,” Elizabeth beams. “We’ve built a better house. We’ve purchased more livestock. Our kids are in school. And we’re still learning too.”
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