Bonga is a town located in the Kaffa Zone of the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples’ Region (SNNPR) in Ethiopia. Here are some key points about Bonga:

1. Location: Bonga is situated in the southwestern part of Ethiopia, in the Kaffa Zone. It is known for its lush greenery, hilly terrain, and rich biodiversity. The town is located at an altitude of around 1,700 meters (5,600 feet) above sea level.
2. Coffee Origin: Bonga is renowned as the birthplace of coffee. It is believed that coffee was first discovered in the forests of the Kaffa region, where Bonga is located. The area’s ideal climate and soil conditions make it conducive to coffee cultivation, and coffee farming remains a significant economic activity in the region.
3. Agriculture: In addition to coffee, Bonga and its surrounding areas are also known for the cultivation of various crops such as maize, teff, barley, and fruits. Agriculture is the primary source of livelihood for many residents of the town and its neighboring communities.
4. Biodiversity: The forests surrounding Bonga are part of the Kafa Biosphere Reserve, a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its rich biodiversity. The region is home to a diverse array of plant and animal species, including many endemic species found only in this area.
5. Culture and Tourism: Bonga is home to various ethnic groups, including the Kafficho people, who have their own unique cultural traditions, language, and way of life. The town and its surrounding areas attract tourists interested in exploring the natural beauty, cultural heritage, and history of the region.
6. Development: Like many towns in Ethiopia, Bonga faces development challenges such as access to healthcare, education, clean water, and infrastructure. Efforts are underway to address these challenges and improve the quality of life for residents.

Overall, Bonga is a historically and culturally significant town in Ethiopia, known for its association with coffee and its stunning natural landscapes. It serves as an important hub for the surrounding agricultural communities and is a destination for tourists interested in exploring Ethiopia’s rich biodiversity and cultural heritage.

After working in the corporate world of the United States, Ahadu Woubshet moved back to his birth country Ethiopia to be part of the transformation that the country was aspiring for and was one of the founding managment and chief operating officer of the Ethiopian Commodity Exchange (ECX), where he worked on quality standards, capacity building, alignment on the international market, true price discovery and even established the first coffee contract to be traded within the ECX. Working at the ECX gave Ahadu opportunities to travel to various coffee-growing regions and farms in Ethiopia and gain first-hand insight into the lives of the farmers and how coffee is grown, traded and how quality is assured. This experience made Ahadu fall in love with coffee and create an impact in the land that gave the world Arabica Coffee. After completing his national mission of the ECX establishment, Ahadu decided to invest more of himself towards developing Ethiopian coffee to its rightful place in the world by applying best practices including investing in the community, developing sustainable farming practices and doing coffee farming right. It was with this decision that the farmer in him took full form.