New coffee processing plant opens in Gikondo, Rwanda

Many coffee farmers and producers within Rwanda are optimistic that the opening of a new coffee roasting and packaging factory will lead to an upturn in sales and, in turn, an increase in profits.

Located in Gikondo, an area on the outskirts of the capital city Kigali, the brand new establishment was formally opened early this week, with Geraldine Mukeshimana, the Minister for Agriculture, presiding over its inauguration.

Owned by the Rwandan Farmers Coffee Company, the facility cost an estimated $3 million and has the capabilities to process three tonnes of coffee per day. Other shareholders include the Development Bank of Rwanda and the Clinton Hunter Development Initiative.

“This factory’s high production capacity will help increase the country’s competitiveness on the international market,” announced Mukeshimana once the ceremonial ribbon had been cut. Coffee sourced from the factory will be sold under the ‘Gorilla’s coffee’ brand and will be exported to numerous buyers based both domestically and abroad, including MacDonald owned hotels in the United Kingdom.

Not only will the facility increase the amount of coffee that is processed and then passed on to market, it will also improve its quality, therefore enabling it to command a high price. Jean D’arc Mugorewishyaka, of the Muhanga-based Abateraninkunga Shyori Cooperative, said: “We are hopeful the new processing plant will [help] us get better prices.” Initially some farmers were earning Rwf50 per kilogramme, but that figures is expected to quadruple.

The lack of adequate processing plants has been seen as a factor for the stagnation of the Rwandan coffee industry in recent years, at least according to William Kayonga of the National Agricultural Export Board.

Previously, there were only five small facilities in the country.

photo: Colleen Taugher (Creative Commons)