‘Build Together’: Rwandan women coffee farmers connect with global delegates

More than 250 coffee delegates from Africa, Europe, Asia, North America, Latin America and beyond have taken part in hands-on field visits to coffee-growing communities in Karongi and Nyaruguru districts, gaining practical insights into production, processing, value addition and improving livelihoods for farmers. The visits, held on September 23, were organised as part of the Global Coffee Conference 2026, which brought together women-led cooperatives, policymakers, researchers, development partners, buyers and other stakeholders in Kigali to discuss opportunities and challenges shaping the future of the coffee sector. Hosted by Sustainable Growers under the theme “Build Together. Lead Globally,” the three-day Global Coffee Conference, running through September 25, brings together producers including women-led cooperatives, buyers, policymakers, researchers, development partners, and investors to strengthen partnerships, open markets and advance innovation across the global coffee value chain. In Karongi District, participants visited KOPAKAKI Dutegure Cooperative, where Sustainable Growers works with coffee farmers alongside Burera and Rusizi districts. The visit brought together coffee buyers from France, Italy, Ecuador and Finland, as well as coffee producers from Tanzania and DR Congo. Participants were taken through the different stages of coffee production, from growing and caring for coffee trees to processing and preparing the final product for the market. The visit also highlighted the growing role of women in coffee production and the benefits of linking production with savings and income diversification. Women growers build skills, incomes and market opportunities Marie Chantal Musabwinama, head of Agaseke Association, which brings together 555 women coffee producers working with KOPAKAKI Dutegure, said the partnership with Sustainable Growers had helped members improve their coffee-growing skills and save part of their earnings. “I was equipped through different sessions on coffee growing, but we also learned the importance of saving part of our earnings from our daily activities. I have expanded my activities by investing in pig farming, which also provides natural manure that helps increase productivity in my coffee plantation,” she said. Agaseke Association has also secured a market for its coffee, with members benefiting from bonuses based on the quality of the coffee they produce. “Previously, in Rwandan culture, we used to believe that coffee growing was only for men. But through working with Sustainable Growers, we have moved away from that mindset, and today we are benefiting from the change,” Musabwinama said. Dr Celestin Mutimura Gatarayiha, a board member of Sustainable Growers, said the progress made by the farmers should be matched by greater investment in processing and value addition. “What we witnessed shows that coffee production is going well, but we should not stop there. We should work together to improve the processing and value addition of our products so that they can reach the market at a value that truly recognises the effort invested by farmers,” he said. Pascasie Umuhoza, Vice Mayor in charge of social welfare in Karongi District, called for greater family involvement in coffee production and value addition. “Producing high-quality coffee should not be the responsibility of women alone. The whole family should be involved and seek to make a profit from the hands-on knowledge provided by Sustainable Growers. The important thing is that producers have the opportunity to engage directly with clients, and there is a huge opportunity behind that which should be tapped into,” she said. Women’s cooperative turns savings into coffee enterprise A similar field visit was held in Nyaruguru District on September 23, where the global delegates visited Nyampinga Women’s Cooperative. Founded in 2005, the cooperative works with 1,561 farmers, including 330 cooperative members, across 28 hectares. It produces up to four containers of coffee annually and generates more than Rwf600 million in revenue. Delegates were taken through the coffee value chain, including preparation and use of organic manure, coffee-tree care, harvesting, processing and preparation for consumption. They also learned how cooperative members save money and supplement their incomes through making and selling crafts. The cooperative provides members with access to Mutuelle de Santé medical cover, the EjoHeza long-term savings scheme, dividends, training, field visits and coffee seedlings, among other support. Esther Mukangago, president of Nyampinga Women’s Cooperative, said the cooperative began as a savings group, with members contributing Rwf100 each, before turning to coffee farming. “We realised that saving Rwf100 alone could not significantly improve our livelihoods, so we decided to venture into coffee farming,” Mukangago said. She said Sustainable Growers supported the cooperative with Rwf27 million, contributing to its growth into a coffee enterprise with a processing facility valued at more than Rwf400 million. The cooperative's growth has coincided with an increase in coffee production and farmer earnings in Nyaruguru. Emmanuel Murwanashyaka, Mayor of Nyaruguru District, said coffee production increased from 330 tonnes to 670 tonnes in 2025/26, while the area under coffee plantations expanded from 1,892 hectares to 2,555 hectares. Coffee farmers' income rose from Rwf1.8 billion to Rwf3.5 billion, while the price paid to farmers increased from Rwf400 to Rwf1,200 per kilogramme, he added. The mayor called for continued efforts to improve coffee quality, expand market access and strengthen women's leadership in the sector. Connecting farmers to global markets The field visits offered conference participants an opportunity to see first-hand how interventions at the farm and cooperative level can translate into higher production, improved quality, stronger incomes and greater participation of women in the coffee value chain. They also created opportunities for direct interaction between producers and international buyers, reinforcing the conference's focus on partnerships, market access and innovation. Coffee is one of Rwanda’s major agricultural exports. Coffee sector posted a record performance in 2025 as export revenues reached nearly $150 million, according to the National Agricultural Export Development Board (NAEB). Year-on-year export volumes increased by 39 per cent, while export revenues rose by 65 per cent. NAEB attributed the growth to higher export volumes, rising international prices and sustained investment in production and market expansion.

News

‘Build Together’: Rwandan women coffee farmers connect with global delegates