Coffee farmers are set to pocket more dividends after the National Agricultural Export Board (NAEB) announced that it has penetrated the Asian market. Alex Kanyankore, the Director General of NAEB said that after recent success the market in Japan they are opening gateways for the entire Asian market which is expected to boost the projected increase in export production. “We have penetrated Chinese market with roasted coffee, what we are involved in is to go into negotiations to increase the market in South Korea,” he said, adding that consultations with Hong Kong are indicating success. Kanyonkore noted that through the Coffee intensification project, NAEB will help farmers to increase plantations and promote value addition by setting up more coffee factories. “We are targeting to improve the level of household income through enhanced production and marketing o, land consolidation and rehabilitation of coffee trees.” Corneille Ntakirutamana, the Deputy Director General, production support and chain development at NAEB said that there are efforts to strengthen the market value chain through organizing farmers in product unions, bringing together the traders and processors and exporters. “We believe building and linking together value chain will increase market for agricultural products add value, thus increasing the incomes of farmers,” he said. While speaking to the press on Tuesday, Kanyankore projected a rise in overall agricultural exports for next year. dias.nyesiga@newtimes.co.rw
