Flores is part of the Indonesian province, East Nusa Tenggara, with East Manggarai being one of the eight governmental districts. In the 18th century, Arab traders from India brought the Arabica coffee plant to this area, which seemed predestined for its cultivation with its mineral-rich volcanic soil, mountain slopes and sufficient rainfall. Later, the colonial powers demanded the cultivation of Robusta beans, so that until a few years ago, only this type of coffee was grown there.
Coffee farming is passed on from one generation to the next, which is why the current coffee farmers only own small plantations, usually between 2,500 m² and 7,500 m² (only very few own between 1 and 2 ha).
Compared to other coffee plantations, such as on Java or Sumatra, their harvest is rather low, but of high quality. The red coffee cherries are always harvested by hand. The cultivation is purely organic, using the dried pulp of the coffee cherries and manure from privately kept livestock as fertiliser. The harvest period is from May to September, depending on the altitude. Arabica beans grow here between 1,000 - 1,700 m above sea level, the Robusta beans at 800 - 1,200 m above sea level.
About 1200 inhabitants or a little more than 300 families live in the village of Tangkul. It is the birthplace of the coffee farmers' cooperative ASNIKOM, which as a self-help initiative wanted to stand up to the price depression for organic coffee that had been going on for years. In 2010, the journey began with Lodovikus Vadirman as chairman and Nobertus Teming as supervisory board member (both from Tangkul) and Damagus Hagas as managing director.
The initial membership of 30, a small proportion from Tangkul, grew quickly as success was visible in a short time and an incentive for other coffee farmers to join and train. The desired specialty quality was achieved through training and dedication and rewarded with prizes in national and international competitions.
2012 Specialty Coffee Association Indonesia – Competition in Surabaya, Ostjava (25 participants in the finals):
• Robusta (pulped natural) 1st place (84,25): 5,6 €/kg
• Arabica (full washed) 4th place (84): 5,18 €/kg
2014 Specialty Coffee Association Indonesia – Competition in Jakarta, capital Indonesia (27 participants in the finals):
• Robusta (pulped natural) 1st place (86): 5,9 €/kg
• Arabica (full washed) 1st place (84,20): 9,04 €/kg
• Yellow Caturra (full washed) 1st place (85,20): 6,02 €/kg
2015 Specialty Coffee Association Indonesia – Competition in Banyuwangi, Ostjava (60 participants in the finals):
• Robusta (pulped natural) 1st place (86): 6,02 €/kg
• Arabica (full washed) 1st place (87): 6,02 €/kg
2016 Specialty Coffee Association Indonesia – Competition in Jakarta, capital Indonesia (30 participants in the finals):
• Robusta (pulped natural) 1st place (86,60): 6,63 €/kg
• Arabica (full washed) 1st place (86): 7,23 €/kg
2017 Atlanta Ocean, USA
(30 participants from Indonesia alone):
• Arabica (full washed) 2nd place (86): 27,35 €/kg resp. 32 US$/kg
Despite these outstanding achievements, the village of Tangkul is, according to the Indonesian government, one of the poorest in the country. And this despite the fact that the inhabitants do not feel poor at all. Since 2021, they have even been considered "extremely poor". Many adults have loans to pay off because they are led to believe by the "value West" that education is everything and children are sent to colleges and universities that do little but cost a lot.
Moreover, the internet and advertising have also found their way to Tangkul. And so the simple-minded villagers buy what everyone supposedly has to have but no one actually needs. An exchange of values takes place that can have fatal consequences in the long run.
In addition, a social system similar to ours has been introduced that the oh-so "poor" rural population can take advantage of. The result is comfortable and lazy farmers whose coffee gardens go wild. Good intentions on the part of the government are not to be assumed, because already in the early 2000s an attempt was made to nationalise the coffee
The FOUR coffee farming families with whom we have been working since the beginning of 2023 according to the two-kings principle are aware of this dilemma. This is precisely why they want to make a clear difference in their village. They reject the government's "aid packages"!
We will be watching closely from now on how Tangkul village develops. Just as thoroughly, from now on, many villagers will also be watching the families who have chosen to do honest, quality work. We pray and believe that their example will "set a precedent" and that other farmers will follow their example.