Rwanda

Trading Partners: Misozi Union and COOPAC

Total Population: 9,038,000 (2005)
Life expectancy at birth: 44 years (2005)
GNI per capita (US$): 230

Coffee farming is deeply rooted in Rwanda tradition: since the introduction of coffee at the beginning of the 20th century, Rwanda farmers have realized that the crop matches our agro-ecological environment. Through coffee farming we create wealth with a minimum knowledge consisting of digging a whole in the ground et planting a coffee seedling. The crop grows naturally, with minimum care consisting of weeding and mulching ;

Rwanda coffee is grown from "a thousand hills" terroirs. Rwanda coffee takes enough time to mature, which makes it dense and rich in flavor, becoming number one in quality;

Only best arabica varieties are grown and properly post harvest handled: Rwanda Coffee is exclusively arabica, with the best bourbon varieties. There are continuous efforts to develop top cup quality and high yielding arabica varieties. Rwanda coffee is wet processed, dry processing being deliberately prohibited by coffee farmers.

Rwanda Background:

The 1994 genocide killed 800,000 people, deeply traumatised Rwanda’s population, broke its social structures and brought its economy to a halt. Regional insecurity in the Great Lakes added to refugee flows, security concerns in border areas and lost economic opportunities. More than 50,000 Rwandans are still refugees in other countries of Africa and are only slowly returning. Broken families, a large number of women-headed households and orphans created an important group of vulnerable people. Malnutrition and HIV/AIDS further aggravate the situation.

Rwanda is a rural country with about 90% of the population engaged in (mainly subsistence) agriculture. It is landlocked with few natural resources and minimal industry.[9] Primary exports are coffee and tea, with the addition in recent years of minerals (mainly Coltan, used in manufacture of electronic and communication devices such as mobile phones) and flowers. Tourism also is a growing sector, notably around ecotourism (Nyungwe Forest, Lake Kivu)and the world famous and unique mountain gorillas in the Virunga park. It has a low gross national product (GNP), and it has been identified as a Heavily Indebted Poor Country (HIPC). In 2005, its economic performance and governance achievements prompted International Funding Institutions to cancel nearly all its debts.

Rwanda is still affected by the lingering impact of the 1994 genocide. The numbers of orphaned children and the proportion of child-headed households are high. Due to its high population density, natural resources are scarce; more than half of the nation’s population is comprised of children. According to the World Food Programme, it is estimated that 60% of the population live below the poverty line and 10-12% of the population suffer from food insecurity every year.

A new constitution was adopted by referendum and promulgated in 2003. The first post-war presidential and legislative elections were held in August and September 2003, respectively. The RPF-led government has continued to promote reconciliation and unity amongst all Rwandans as enshrined in the new constitution that forbids any political activity or discrimination based on race, ethnicity or religion.

Coffee in Rwanda

It is believed that coffee was introduced in Rwanda in 1904 by German missionaries. Around 1930, a considerable interest in coffee developed as it was the sole revenues generating commodity for rural families. Up to now, coffee has played a considerable role in the socio-economic development of the country, despite the collapse of world coffee prices at the international market.

· Coffee is grown by small scale coffee farmers estimated at 400.000 in number, with an average of 165 coffee trees per farmer;
· Only Arabica coffee varieties are grown, with the predominance of bourbon and typica varieties;
· Varieties cultivated: Harrar; POP3303/21; Jackson 2/1257; BM 139.
· Altitude range from 1200 to 1800 meters above sea level;
· Rainfall range from 900 to 2200 mm per annum;
· Soils are generally good, with high yield potential for coffee. About 30% of soils under coffee cultivation are of volcanic origin;
· Planting spacing: 2000 to 2500 coffee trees per hectare;
· Cultivated area under coffee farming: 28,000 hectares;
· Yield: 0.7 to 1 tone/hectare;
· Flowering: September - October;
· Harvesting season: March - July;
· Post harvest treatments: wet processing methods;
· Period of exportation: All year long;
· Caffeine content: 1.3%;
· Weigh of bags: 60 Kg;