The Rwanda Cup of Excellence 2015 competition has kicked off with submission of 208 coffee lots for pre-selection stage. This is an increase from 170 lots received last year and 169 lots in 2013, according to National Agriculture Export Board (NAEB).

Sixty lots are expected to make it to the finals slated for 31st July in Rulindo District, George William Kayonga, the NAEB chief, said. He added that the final competition will be adjudicated by  a jury of national and international experts.

The Cup of Excellence competition seeks to promote the quality of the country’s coffees and best practices along value chain.

The annual event, established in 2008, also looks to improve the coffee industry and farmers’ household incomes through value-addition. NAEB has already designated seven well-equipped laboratories in Huye, Rusizi, Rulindo and Kayonza districts in the coffee screening process.

Competition guidelines

Coffee washing stations will select top plantations that observe proper agriculture practices, and ensure quality along the value chain, according Eric Ruganintwali, the NAEB quality and regulation manager and Cup of Excellence co-ordinator.

Every coffee washing station submits a sample of 5kg of parchment coffee for each competing lot. The stations are also required to sign contracts with farmers or their representative before entering the coffee into the contest.

Online auction for September  

The best coffees will be sold through an Internet auction in September. Rwanda fetched over Rwf212 million from last year’s winning coffees that were auctioned on the Internet, up from Rwf159.3 million during 2013.