Farming may seem like simple work, but for the majority of Rwanda’s population, it’s the only work. Most coffee farmers in Rwanda also grow potatoes, bananas, beans and cassava to live on. This type of subsistence farming provides barely enough food to eat on a daily basis; and paying for school fees, visiting the doctor and buying clothes or household items come second to making sure there is a meal on the table at the end of the day.
Growing coffee can help break this cycle of poverty for many farmers. As one of the only crops that can bring a supplemental income to farmers, coffee is becoming increasingly important in Rwanda. Coffee has been instrumental in the establishment of farmer cooperatives and business groups which have brought people together in this former war-torn country. Coffee is also now being consumed at the national level more widely than ever before. This awareness and spirit for coffee as an important cash crop and national beverage is a significant step for Rwanda as the country heals from the past.
Our agronomist teaches the farmers and station owners how to make organic fertilizer from the coffee pulp (pictures below) and implement proper insect control and plant management techniques in the fields.
Growing coffee can help break this cycle of poverty for many farmers. As one of the only crops that can bring a supplemental income to farmers, coffee is becoming increasingly important in Rwanda. Coffee has been instrumental in the establishment of farmer cooperatives and business groups which have brought people together in this former war-torn country. Coffee is also now being consumed at the national level more widely than ever before. This awareness and spirit for coffee as an important cash crop and national beverage is a significant step for Rwanda as the country heals from the past.
The Rogers Family Company (RFC) has been buying green coffee from Rwanda for the last 3 years. As one of the biggest green coffee buyers in the country, we strive to make a difference in the lives of our coffee suppliers; the farmers. We ensure that the farmer receives a fair price for his/her coffee cherry by working directly with the washing station owners who buy their cherry and the Rwandan Coffee Board.
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| making organic fertilizer |
Our agronomist teaches the farmers and station owners how to make organic fertilizer from the coffee pulp (pictures below) and implement proper insect control and plant management techniques in the fields.
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| insect trap |
In addition, we invest in the coffee communities by building schools and health clinics for the coffee farmers and their children. In Rwanda, we have completed the construction of additional classrooms at two primary schools, built student desks and are in the process of building 2 more primary schools, a health clinic and bathrooms at one school. For each project we ask that the community contribute in some way, whether it is in-kind materials and/or labor. The community contribution fosters ownership of each project, ensuring its sustainability and helps to establish a positive relationship between the washing stations, the farmer and Rogers Family Company.
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