KIGALI - Rwanda’s coffee has earned $ 23.5 million from exporting 8707 tons of green coffee an official has said. This is higher than 7810 tons valued at $ 19 million that were exported in the corresponding period last year.

Rwanda is expected to earn a record of $ 68 millon dollars from its coffee exports the highest in the previous years.

According to Peter Gahakwa, Head of Quality Assurance Department at Rwanda Coffee Development Authority (Ocir Café) government is on track to achieve its targets. Tradable coffee is to increase from 14,250 tons in 2009 to 26,000 tons.

The increase is a result of more use of fertilizers, recently renewed plantations and expansion of cultivated area under coffee and favorable coffee cycle.

"It is important to note that the increase is due to fertiliser application and good rains maturity period delayed by about one month (more cherry filling),” Gahakwa said.

It is said that coffee consumption particularly for specialty per capita in America is at six percent while in Asia especially China is at 10 percent.

America, Switzerland, France, United Kingdom and Germany are the largest markets for Rwandan coffee.

The current price per kg is $3.6-4 for fully washed and $2.5 -3.4 for ordinary coffee.

This year OCIR CAFE in collaboration with Alliance for Coffee Excellence (ACE), coffee umbrella organisations and other partners is organising the second Rwanda Cup of Excellence Competition. More than 154 coffee brands will be showcased in this year’s Cup of Excellence.

As noted by Gahakwa, this week, the national Jury of Rwandan expert cuppers will rank about 60 coffees which will rank highest.

Next week from to August 23-28, an International Jury with 12 judges from across the globe will rank the very best of Rwanda Coffee at Kayonza Coffee Quality Laboratory, in the Eastern Province.

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