Beyond the Beans: The Voices of Sri Lankan Specialty Coffee – Kithnasami Idhayaraja

Meet Kithnasami Idhayaraja – championing women’s empowerment in coffee farming.

As Assistant Product Manager and Extension Officer at MDF partner Ella Coffee Collective (AMBA Estate), Kithnasami works towards creating inclusive opportunities for women in agriculture who grow coffee in the region. With support from MDF, he’s pioneered innovative outreach and training strategies that equip women farmers with the skills to improve their farming methods, giving them the confidence to earn an independent additional income for their households. Thanks to his efforts, female participation at ECC has soared from just 20% to an incredible 90%. His work is a powerful example of how dedicated leadership can drive real change. This is his journey of progress and purpose...