Coffee production in Rwanda
Coffee production in Rwanda plays a significant role in the country's economy and agricultural sector. Known for its Arabica coffee, Rwanda has emerged as a notable player in the global coffee industry.[1]
History and background
[edit]Coffee was first introduced to the country in the early 1900s by the Germans. Under Belgian colonial rule, coffee production became compulsory.[2][3]
After the 1994 Rwandan genocide, the Partnership for Enhancing Agriculture in Rwanda through Linkages worked to rebuild the economy through expansion into the coffee industry.[4] From 2001 to 2006, USAID invested $10 million into coffee washing stations and farmer training.[5]
Cultivation practices
[edit]Rwandan coffee is predominantly grown at high altitudes, benefiting from favorable climate conditions and volcanic soil.[6][7] Farmers use traditional techniques such as hand-picking of ripe coffee cherries, sun drying, and meticulous sorting.[8]
Annually, Rwanda produces between 20,000 and 22,000 metric tons of coffee. As of 2025[update], 97% of coffee produced was arabica, primarily bourbon coffee, and 3% was robusta.[9]
Economic impact
[edit]Coffee production has a significant economic impact on Rwanda, particularly rural communities. In 2025, there were 400,000 coffee smallholdings in Rwanda.[9]
Between 2017 and 2023, coffee exports generated $452 million.[10] Major importers of Rwandan coffee include the United States, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, Belgium, and Singapore.[11] Domestic consumption comprises less than 20 percent of the coffee grown. Rwandan coffee is primarily exported as raw green beans and roasted in other countries, with Rwanda's first roasted bean exports occurring in April 2018.[3]
In 2018, the Rwandan government partnered with the Chinese e-commerce platform Alibaba, increasing Rwandan coffee sales through business-to-consumer models.[11][12]
Sustainability efforts
[edit]Various organizations, cooperatives, and government agencies promote practices such as shade-grown coffee,[13][14] ensuring fair prices for farmers, and enhancing social development in coffee-growing regions.[15] Rwanda's coffee sector prioritizes traceability in the coffee supply chain.[16]
See also
[edit]- Coffee production in Kenya
- Coffee production in Uganda
- Coffee production in Tanzania
- Coffee production in Ethiopia
References
[edit]- ^ "Rwanda's Coffee Dominance: The Powerhouse Behind Beans That Conquer Global Markets and Set the Gold Standard Worldwide". Zoliberry. 2025-04-23. Retrieved 2025-06-28.
- ^ Jenny Goldstein (January 2011). "The "Coffee Doctors": The Language of Taste and the Rise of Rwanda's Specialty Bean Value". Food and Foodways. 19 (1): 135-159. doi:10.1080/07409710.2011.544226.
- ^ a b Essa, Azad. "Rwanda's slow-brewing love affair with coffee". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 2025-05-28.
- ^ Dyk, Deirdre van (2005-08-25). "The Coffee Widows". TIME. Retrieved 2025-05-28.
- ^ Fraser, Laura (2006-08-06). "Coffee, and Hope, Grow in Rwanda". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2025-05-28.
- ^ Hammond, David (2018-09-24). "How Rwanda Produces Some of the World's Best Coffee". Wednesday Journal. Archived from the original on 2022-12-07. Retrieved 2025-05-28.
- ^ "What are the best coffee tours in Rwanda? | Rwanda Coffee Safaris". Volcanoes National Park Rwanda. Retrieved 2025-05-28.
- ^ "Coffee – Visit Rwanda". Archived from the original on 2024-05-30. Retrieved 2024-06-27.
- ^ a b "Official Rwanda Export Website". rdb.rw. Archived from the original on 2024-07-26. Retrieved 2025-05-27.
- ^ "NAEB boosts the sustainability of Rwanda coffee industry by producing new prolific seedlings to replace old trees". National Agricultural Export Development Board.
- ^ a b "Coffee sector". Rwanda Development Board.
- ^ "eWTP Promotes Rwandan Coffee During COVID-19". Embassy of Rwanda in China.
- ^ "Planting Coffee Trees in Rwanda for Land Restoration and Community Development | AFR100". afr100.org. Retrieved 2025-05-28.
- ^ "Coffee production in Rwanda: Tackling climate change with agroforestry". Naturland. Retrieved 2025-05-28.
- ^ "Foreign and Domestic Ownership of Rwanda's Coffee Industry". NBER. Archived from the original on 2023-10-02. Retrieved 2024-06-27.
- ^ "Striving for sustainability in Rwanda's coffee industry - CNBC Africa". www.cnbcafrica.com. 2023-02-16. Retrieved 2025-05-28.