Coffee exporters, farmers acquire marketing skills

Coffee farmers and exporters have been trained on how to handle price risks and manage contracts. The training, which was organised by the National Agricultural Export Development Board (NAEB), the World Bank and the East African Fine Coffee Association, also aimed at sensitising stakeholders on their roles in the coffee value chain to improve quality. Betty Kayitesi, the NAEB international coffee marketing officer, noted that most farmers do not understand their role in the coffee value chain and how the international coffee market operates. She said this has affected the quality of Rwanda’s coffee. “Farmers do not know why prices fall or when they should sell off stocks and how to ensure quality of the produce. As a result, many of them are making losses,” she said. Over 100 participants were trained on how to track coffee prices on the Internet. They also learnt bookkeeping and business calculations skills. “When farmers know how to balance their books of accounts or are aware of the buying and selling prices, speculators will be reduced. This will also boost quality and coffee export volumes,” Kayitesi noted. She said the training would help coffee dealers and farmers contribute to the transformation of the sector and the economy generally. Colette Uwamahoro from Shining Coffee Export Co-operative in Bugesera district pointed out that previously, they did not know the importance of having clean books of accounts or how to determine their profits or losses. She noted that they were also equipped with skills on how to ensure quality in coffee value chain. She added that the NAEB training was timely and enhanced their marketing and bookkeeping skills. “We will now work hard to improve coffee quality and quantity so that our coffee stay competitive,” Uwamahoro said. Vedaste Ntaganda from Nyanza district said the training helped them understand the coffee value chain and how price changes on the international market influence the local market. “The skills we have acquired will help us transform our operations and ensure quality… we are also now aware of how changes in prices on the international market affects us,” said Ntaganda.

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Coffee exporters, farmers acquire marketing skills