KIGALI – Rwanda’s National Agricultural Export Board ( NAEB ) wants coffee farmers, processors and exporters to work under one umbrella body as a measure to increase output volumes and fetch better revenues from the crop.
George Kayonga, the director general of NAEB made the proposal last week at a workshop with coffee farmers, processors and other stakeholders on how to increase output volumes and revenue from the crop.
He said having an association which brings together all the coffee-farming cooperatives, processors and exporters would create better linkages within the sector.
“Kenya Tea Development Agency has become so strong to the extent that agency produces most of the fertilisers, pesticides and even machines.
All these can be done in Rwanda as long as the farmers, processors and exporters work together as one to boost coffee exports,” he said.
Corneille Ntakirutimana, director in charge of production at NAEB said most of the issues farmers, processors and exporters face are partly being sorted out by the board.
“With the body formed, they would not only be able to fetch better earnings but also enable them have more money for the fertilisers and other farm inputs needed to carry out the job,” he said.
Rwanda earned $60.9m from coffee last year, which was an 18.4 per cent decline compared to the $74.6m earned in 2011.
The coffee sector is targeting to generate $157m from exports by 2017, compared to $87m expected from the targeted 24,000 tonnes of the crop this year.
Source: [via]
