Walida Cooperative is a community of 500 families living at the base of Mount Argopuro. Since 2014, they have been growing and processing specialty coffee. Their mission comprises two objectives:
- Running a non-profit organization—an agroforestry school with 800 students on campus and 23 teachers. Students who successfully complete the school pursue training in agricultural science, processing, or higher education.
- Muhlisin, a skilled agricultural scientist, decided to return to his hometown to make a difference in a region facing severe water shortages and land issues. He is a processor who enjoys research and development, which is reflected in the numerous and unique combinations of coffee processing.
Muhlisin and the dedicated Walida Cooperative team initiated a forest restoration program aimed at regenerating the forest area, achieving impressive results.
By planting 120,000 coffee trees, they successfully established a biodiverse coffee plantation at 1,850 meters above sea level. Birds and animals have returned to the restored area, demonstrating how biological restoration can address the current crisis.
By enabling farmers to choose their own coffee cherry sale prices, they collectively strengthen their economy. This enhances both the quality of the coffee and the livelihoods of the workers producing it.