EU provides €2 million to unlock potential of Rwanda’s coffee value chain

In the framework of the Rwanda Ikawa Nziza Cyane project (RW INC), the European Union and the Government work together to support the coffee sector in Rwanda. Through Technoserve Inc, an American organisation, the EU will support Rwanda to unlock its coffee value chain by improving performance of farmers, cooperatives, farmer organisations, private companies, financial institutions and public and private institutions to deliver high-quality, inclusive and sustainable coffee.

“We are proudly supporting coffee sector in Rwanda; a leading export crop that contributes around 24 per cent to total agricultural exports. Thanks to this funding, by 2025, farmers’ income will increase by 15% and the yield by 10%”, said Ambassador Nicola Bellomo, Head of the EU Delegation to Rwanda.  

Rwanda Ikawa Nziza Cyane project (RW’INC) is targeting to reach out to 50,000 smallholder farmers, which represents 13% of the total coffee growers in Rwanda, 50 coffee washing stations and 5 coffee exporters, exporting around 50% of the total coffee production.

Ben Bizinde, Technoserve Inc. Country Programme Manager stated; “In close collaboration with different stakeholders, in synergizing with other ongoing initiatives in coffee sector and Technoserve Inc. experience of more than 13 years in Rwanda’s coffee sector, we are confident that the project will increase coffee farmers’ income through enhancing coffee yield, improving quality and value chain governance.”

The project is in line with Team Europe Initiative regarding “Investing in sustainable and inclusive agricultural transformation”. The project will embrace the climate resilient productive infrastructures through promoting postharvest technologies in coffee sector and will support safe and high quality products access to local, regional and international market.

The RW INC project will coordinate closely with the EU-EAC Market Access Upgrade programme (EU-EAC MARKUP), a EUR 35 million regional initiative, covering five East African Countries (EAC), that aims at increasing export of coffee and horticultural products, promoting regional integration and access to higher value market. (End)