Mono-crop farming has caused deforestation in the mountainous regions of Tak province. This has a serious effect on the ecosystem including soil erosion, biodiversity loss and climate change. Unless the situation is addressed, farmers will eventually be evicted and lose their livelihoods. For hilltribe communities, mono-cropping causes further detriment as hilltribe cultures are closely linked to nature. The loss of forest cover and biodiversity has greatly affected hilltribe identities, values and well-being.
Muser Coffee Hill was formed in 2008 with a mission to improve the livelihood of local farmers and promote forest conservation through purchasing, processing and selling natural coffee. MCH currently works with a network of 3,000 hilltribe farmers and provides new farmers with training and guidance on conversion to shade-grown coffee-planting. The enterprise established a capital pool to purchase raw coffee beans from farmers at fair prices.
The project will fund a new roaster for Muser Coffee Hill to increase its output capacity of roasted beans, and working capital to buy more shade-grown coffee beans at fair prices from hilltribe farmers.