KIGALI, Rwanda — The government of Rwanda will adopt a new coffee policy which will help improve productivity, and face new issues such as climate change and urbanization.
Gerardine Mukeshimana, the Minister for Agriculture, said the policy would replace the coffee policy of 1998, paving way for new strategies that will help streamline Rwanda’s coffee industry.
“Coffee is an important cash crop and a source of income, which makes it essential to have clear and strong policies, regulations and strategies if we are to improve the livelihoods of over 400,000 farmers who depend on coffee farming,” she said.
Mukeshimana was speaking during the Rwanda coffee conference organised by the National Agriculture Export Board (Naeb) and the International Growth Centre (IGC) in Kigali last week.
“We want to analyze where we are coming from, where we have registered success and where we think we have fallen short, plus where we can improve given the emerging trends and new opportunities in the coffee sector,” the Chief Executive Officer, National Agricultural Export Board (NAEB) Amb. George William Kayonga said.
“We therefore want to collect ideas from the private sector, the local leaders, the academia, share experiences,” he added.
The new policy aims at addressing a set of systematic issues in the coffee sector such as extension service program to become more efficient and effective, Coffee research function to meet the demand for high yielding varieties resistant to pests and diseases, tolerant to drought, and technologies to increase productivity in existing plantations, and how to ensure that coffee washing stations are operational and profitable, report national media.
The new coffee policy will be consistent with the International Coffee Agreement 2007.
