OCIR CAFÉ, Rwanda’s coffee regulatory authority plans to spend Frw4 billion on importing fertilisers to be distributed to all coffee farmers in the country.

Etienne Bihogo, director general said the fertilisers will be applied in coffee plantation to increase their productivity.

Ocir Café is sourcing fertilisers at Frw 380-400 per kilogramme and will sale to farmers at Frw315 per kilogramme.

This is the first time government is purchasing fertilisers for farmers in the country. The heavy use of fertilisers is boost production so that the country meets export target next year.

"After using fertilisers in all provinces, I am sure our export volume may increase from 15,461 tonnes to about 30,000 tonnes in 2008.

Experts say one well fertilised trees of coffee can produce about 1.2 kilograms of coffee compared to 700 grams when a tree not fertilised.
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