Coffee farmers in Rwanda will only pay half the price for fertilizer starting this September, thanks to a subsidy introduced in a bid to increase yields and improve the quality of the country’s coffee exports.
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The subsidy follows an agreement signed between the National Agricultural Export Development Board (NAEB), the Coffee Exporters and Processors Association of Rwanda (CEPAR), and One Acre Fund-Tubura, on July 9.
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This may also help to recover the coffee exports revenues which fell by 32.1 per cent, dropping to $78.7 million (approx. Rwf110 billion) in 2023/2024, from over $115.9 million the previous fiscal year, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources (MINAGRI).
Through this partnership, farmers will pay Rwf796 per kilo of fertilizer, while the remaining Rwf796 will be covered by NAEB and CEPAR.
The NPK 22-6-12+35 fertiliser will be distributed by One Acre Fund-Tubura starting with the 2026A farming season, and distribution begins in September 2025, giving farmers enough time to prepare ahead of the season.
Officials say this marks a significant step in supporting smallholder coffee growers to prepare their fields on time and increase yields.
NAEB’s Director General, Claude Bizimana, said the initiative is designed to get the right fertilizer to farmers affordably and efficiently.
"We encourage every coffee farmer to take advantage of this opportunity because when you use the right fertilizer properly, it increases both yield and coffee quality, accelerating development.”
Since the fertilizer will not be provided for free, farmers are encouraged to prepare in advance and coordinate with coffee processors and One Acre Fund-Tubura field agents to access it on time.
According to Belinda Bwiza, the Country Director of One Acre Fund-Tubura, the partnership is proof of what collaboration between government institutions, the private sector, and development partners can achieve.
"Through coordination, awareness campaigns, and farmer-centered planning, this partnership lays a strong foundation for the growth of Rwanda’s coffee sector and well-being of farmers overall.”
Since 2012, NAEB, with annual government funding ranging from Rwf4 to Rwf6 billion, has been purchasing and distributing fertilizers to coffee farmers free of charge.
Despite the substantial budget allocated, the quantity of fertilizer provided to farmers has consistently fallen short, covering only 50% or less of the amount required for a single application, even though two applications are recommended annually (one in Season A and another in Season B). This persistent shortfall necessitated a shift in approach, prompting the government to transition from fully subsidized distribution to a 50% cost-sharing model for fertilizer.
This approach, according to NAEB, is intended to empower farmers to purchase and apply the quantity of fertilizer they need, at the right time, and from locations closer to them.