All the funds from the GFMe crowd funder have been transferred to the bank account in Nepal of the AgroForestry Resource Centre (AFRC) in Deusa, Solukhumbu, and much of the required equipment has now either been purchased (some of it already stored safely at the AFRC) or is on order from India.
Four quotations were received from different suppliers in line with Nepal Government procurement procedures, and the cheapest supplier was accepted.
Four pieces of the more major equipment – the coffee hulling machine, the grading machine, the roasting machine and the coffee grinder – are on order but are scheduled to be supplied by 16 August, 2024. EcoHimal and the AFRC will then receive specialist local assistance to install and test the equipment, establish the roastery and train the necessary staff in Mukli, where the Thulung Dudhkoshi Local Municipal Government has kindly provided us with spacious accommodation.
Many thanks indeed for your donations large and small – all very much appreciated. Once the roaster has been established and is up and running, we will then send some pics!
Solukhumbu Coffee Roastery - Update