Rwanda's top coffee to be celebrated today #rwanda

Thirty coffee farmers will tussle it out for the Rwanda Cup
of Excellence top prize today during the finals of sector's
premier competition finals.
George Kayonga, the National Agricultural Exports Board
(Naeb) boss, said this year's competition has seen an 8 per
cent increase in participation compared to 2013.
Over 170 lots were submitted during the pre-selection
phase compared to 169 last year, he added.
The Cup of Excellence competition seeks to promote the
quality of the country's coffees and best practices. The
awards ceremony will be held in Musaza Sector, Kirehe
District.
The best coffees selected at the competition are sold
through an Internet auction at a later date.
Last year, Rwanda sold 47 per cent of 2013 participating
coffees to Japan, with Europe and Australia taking 20 per
cent each, while South Korea bought 13 per cent of the
coffees.
Kayonga said, of the 180 lots submitted for the competitions
at various levels, 56.6 per cent were from the Western
Province, Southern Province 24.4 per cent, 13 per cent from
Northern Province, while the Eastern Province contributed
7.5 per cent.
The competition is organised by Naeb with support from
Alliance of Coffee Excellence; the Ministry of Trade and
Industry; Development Bank of Rwanda; Starbucks and I&M
Bank.
Kayonga said a team of local and international jurors, from
Asia, Europe, the US, Latin America and Australia will
adjudicate the competition.
The Rwanda Cup of Excellence Award recognises top
quality coffees that are produced following strict standards,
protocols and rules.
Increasing productivity
Meanwhile, Naeb is set to increase its field schools, from
300 to 800 as part of the drive to boost coffee production
and quality, said Ndambe Nzaramba, the Naeb deputy
director general in charge of export and market operations.
Nzaramba added that efforts were ongoing to secure new
markets for Rwanda's coffee.
Pierre Kamere Munyura, president of the Coffee Exporters
and Processors Association of Rwanda, said promoting
coffee processing could greatly enhance exports.
Munyura, also the managing director of Mibirizi Coffee and
Foodstuff, argued that increasing volumes alone cannot
produce the required results.
Naeb is looking to increase annual coffee production
turnover to more than 25,000 tonnes.
Coffee accounts for between 12 and 17 per cent of the
country's total exports.