As part of Qima Foundation’s farmer engagement activities, we discovered that holing –i.e. digging holes for new coffee trees – is one of the most  significant barriers in coffee cultivation. Planting new coffee trees requires large holes in Yemen, and Yemeni soils, often hardened and cemented with calcium carbonate, pose a challenge for manual digging. As a result, Yemeni producers can typically only dig 3-5 holes per day due to these conditions.

To overcome this challenge, Qima foundation initiated a trial using heavy-duty, portable, mechanised augers. Although the initial results were discouraging with the auger breaking twice during the learning phase, additional operational guidance from the vendor and modifications from Qima Foundation’s technical team, led to fantastic results. The use of augers led to an increase in the number of holes dug per day from 3 to 80.

In addition to providing subsidies and financing for holing, the project is exploring the development of specialised crews trained in using the auger to expedite hole digging and rebuilding terraces. This innovative approach not only addresses the practical challenges of planting new coffee trees, but also creates new economic development opportunities for local communities.