KIGALI – Gary Kotzen from the U.S COSTCO Wholesale Corporation and Peter Rogers, the founder of Rogers Family Company on May the 14th, 2014 met with the Minister of Agriculture and Animal Resources (MINAGRI), Dr Agnes Kalibata and expressed their commitments to make huge investments into Rwanda’s high quality coffee.
Rogers Family Company, a US-based company, works closely with Rwandan coffee growers to produce high quality coffee, buys the produce and trade the roasted coffee with COSTCO Wholesale Corporation; which looks for high-quality coffee.
During the meeting, Minister Kalibata told the investors that Rwanda has been investing in coffee expansion; given that the country is worldwide recognized for its high-quality coffee.
“We still have to grow more coffee trees,” the Minister pointed out, noting that parts of western and southern provinces are particularly the most targeted for expansion.
These American investors are much interested not only in scaling up the coffee expansion in Rwanda, but also bringing latest technologies in washing coffee in a bid to boost Rwanda’s premium coffee.
Augustin Nambajende, the Field Agronomist at Rogers family company, said in a separate interview that the company has a project to grow 1,000,000 coffee trees in Rwanda.
Both Kotzen and Rogers visited a site in Ngororero district where they want to grow coffee trees on 100 ha consolidated land.
The venture will also include teaching local coffee growers the best practices in coffee production such as recommended use of fertilizers. Peter Rogers on his part said he wants to set up a coffee washing station equipped with the latest technologies. The washing station will be set up in collaboration with Alfred Nkubiri, a local mogul in coffee sector.
And Minister Kalibata assured the investors that the ministry is really committed to encourage the private sector to build partnerships with farmers. Thanks to land use consolidation, Kalibata explained, investors work closely with farmers to produce what is needed by the investors.
“Everything is done according to investor’s needs,” the minister told the investors, assuring them that they have chance to produce premium coffee.
Rogers Family Company has been taking Rwandan fully washed coffee to the US since 2006; taking an average of 60 containers per season. Rwandan coffee has now secured shelves in COSTCO Wholesale Corporation where it is branded Kirkland Rwandan coffee; a mark of elite coffee.
Apart from trading Rwandan coffee, Rogers family company also play a great role in schooling Rwandan students. They have also built a school as part of their corporate social responsibility
