Two American firms have committed to continuing investing in Rwandan coffee sector through a programme that will see new coffee technologies integrated into the harvest process.

This followed a meeting between the Minister for Agriculture and Animal Resources, Dr Agnes Kalibata, and the vice-president of the US COSTCO Wholesale Corporation, Gary Kotzen, last week. COSTCO is the second-largest retailer in the United States and the seventh-largest retailer in the world.

Peter Rogers, the founder of Rogers Family Company, which works with Rwandan coffee growers, also attended the meeting. The firm also buys coffee and then roasts and sells it to COSTCO under the Kirkland Rwandan Coffee brand.

The two firms are planning to grow more coffee on 100 hectares of consolidated land in Ngororero district.

Augustin Nambajende, a field agronomist with Rogers Family Company, says the firm plans to grow one million new coffee trees in Rwanda.

Rogers also said the firm would set up modern coffee washing stations in collaboration with Alfred Nkubiri, a Rwandan coffee mogul. The venture will also include training local growers on best practices for coffee production, such as proper fertilisers application.

Minister Kalibata lauded the new investment, saying it is in line with Rwanda’s efforts to expand its coffee market. She said her ministry has taken measures to make it easier for the private sector to invest in the coffee industry.

Coffee accounts for 17 per cent of Rwanda’s annual exports. 

Rogers Family Company has been purchasing Rwandan coffee since 2006, and buys an average of 60 containers per season.

This new venture will help the over 400,000 smallholder coffee farmers, who depend on the international export market to make a living.