Rwanda to earn $157m from coffee exports

The Rwandan government has aimed to
generate US$157mn profit by 2017 from
coffee exports by advising farmers,
processors and exporters to work together
According to the National Agricultural Export
Board (NAEB) director general, George Kayonga,
Rwandan farmers and co-ops have seen profits
for more than 10 years now.
“We want all such people to form an association
which will help create better communication in
the coffee sector,” said the Kayonga during a
recent workshop.
Rwanda’s profits from coffee declined, generating
US$60.9mn in 2012 and around US$74.6mn in
2011, Kayonga said.
“With the incomes brought in, you will then be
able to buy fertilizers plus other needed
requirements which will still contribute to your
development,” stated Corneille Ntakirutimana, the
director in charge of Production at NAEB.
“In 2000, Rwanda's first coffee cooperative
earned around US$0.20 for one kilogramme of
regular-quality coffee," Ntakirutimana said.
“Fast-forward 11 years the same co-op earned US
$3.50 per kilogramme.”
The government has set a target of producing
24,000 tonnes of coffee by end of 2013.