The programme seeks to contribute to the closing of the living income gap of 3,425 coffee producers—especially women and youth operating in 9 RWACOF coffee washing stations. This is done by providing them with opportunities to diversify their income streams and improve their livelihoods. The project is co-funded by Rikolto and SUCAFINA Rwanda (RWACOF Export Ltd) through its sustainability foundation, called Kahawatu Foundation Rwanda.
Rwanda’s Agriculture Gender Strategy (AGS) highlights persistent gender inequalities in the agricultural sector. Women farmers continue to face limited access to and control over productive assets, restricting their ability to thrive. A 2022 study by the London School of Economics (LSE) further underscores structural challenges in coffee production, including small farm sizes—with the average total land per farmer at just 0.82 hectares, of which only 34% is dedicated to coffee cultivation.
Youth participation in the sector is another pressing issue. With an average age of 51 years, coffee farming in Rwanda struggles to attract younger generations. Barriers such as limited land access, lack of motivation, and a scarcity of visible success stories make agriculture an unattractive career path for many young people.
Women make up 40% of Rwanda’s coffee farmers, yet their contribution remains undervalued. Investing in their education, empowerment, and access to resources is crucial for fostering a more inclusive and resilient coffee sector.
Building on a successful collaboration with SUCAFINA in Indonesia, SUCAFINA Rwanda/RWACOF, through the Kahawatu Foundation and in partnership with Rikolto in Rwanda, has co-invested in research to generate evidence on closing the living income gap and improving nutrition for women and youth in coffee production. This initiative, spanning Rwanda’s Eastern, Western, and Southern provinces, seeks to encourage private sector investment in helping farmers diversify their income streams beyond coffee, creating a more sustainable and inclusive agricultural landscape.
This project empowers 3,425 women and youth coffee producers supplying cherries to nine SUCAFINA/RWACOF coffee washing stations in Rwanda. Through a focus on nutrition, financial independence, and resilience, the initiative fosters long-term sustainability in coffee production.
Women are key decision-makers in household nutrition and play a vital role in food systems. The project equips women and youth coffee producers with practical knowledge on food security, balanced diets, reproductive health, family planning, and entrepreneurship. Through targeted training, participants can make informed choices that improve household well-being and create sustainable income opportunities.
Village Savings and Loans Associations (VSLAs) serve as an essential financial lifeline for low-income farmers, offering access to savings, credit, and financial education outside formal banking systems. The project will establish at least 50 VSLAs, each comprising 15 to 30 members who meet weekly to save and access low-interest loans (5%) for business expansion and new income-generating activities. These groups will receive start-up kits containing essential record-keeping materials and will be supported until they reach operational maturity.
Additionally, the project introduces pig farming as a profitable business model. Ten groups of women and youth (30 members each) will receive support to construct 10 pigsties and start with five pigs per group. With training in feeding, hygiene, disease management, and breeding, members will gradually distribute piglets among themselves, ensuring each participant benefits. Pig farming will provide additional income streams while pig waste serves as organic manure, boosting the productivity of coffee trees, fruit trees, and kitchen gardens.
The project integrates agroforestry and intercropping to enhance ecosystem health and farm resilience. By planting mango, avocado, and banana trees alongside coffee, farmers gain multiple benefits:
• Improved coffee productivity through nutrient-rich soil and increased biomass.
• Climate resilience, with trees offering shade, moisture retention, and protection against extreme weather.
• Enhanced biodiversity, attracting pollinators like bees and birds, which naturally control pests.
• Better household nutrition, with fruit trees providing essential vitamins and minerals.
To support this, the project will establish avocado and mango nurseries and promote grafting techniques to accelerate tree maturity and productivity. Farmers will receive training, seedlings, and incentives for the adoption of these practices, ensuring a sustainable, profitable, and climate-smart coffee-farming system.
By the end of the project:
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