To nurture the fertile soil and nourish the productive coffee trees, large amounts of water are needed. At Burka, a top priority is placed on the protection and competent use of this precious resource which is essential to the farm and the community. The estate possesses its own spring system with a centralized pump house, modern conduits and several boreholes. All waste water is reprocessed in ponds and constructed wetlands. During factory processing water is used as a transport medium. All water and fruit waste is turned over for composting, after which it is returned to the fields as organic fertilizer.
Irrigation
An intensive agricultural practice
The combination of naturally occurring springs and modern boreholes merges traditional practices with new irrigation techniques to maximize efficiency. Water being such a scarce resource in Tanzania, irrigation is a closely monitored process and is conducted depending on rainfall and according to tree requirements and seasonal conditions. Each round of irrigation aims to furnish an average of 3mm per day to each coffee tree. Various different irrigation systems are used throughout the entire coffee producing area to ensure a consistent and targeted application of irrigation.
