Rwanda - Maraba Coop Women's Coffee

Apple cider, pineapple, guava, passion fruit, bright
TOP LOT
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Bag Weight 60 KG BAG
Harvest Season 2023/24
Status Spot
Lot Number P612868-1
  • 65 Bag(s)
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About This Coffee

The Maraba Cooperative, established in 2001, has significantly impacted Rwanda's coffee industry. Initially formed by 20 growers as part of a USAID-funded development program to improve the lives of farmers in the mid-90s, it now includes over 1,500 members, with about 35% being women. The cooperative operates four washing stations in the Southern Province, allowing meticulous processing and drying of coffee.  The cooperative provides financial support for school fees, health services, and access to a credit fund for home loans and farming equipment. Profits are reinvested into shared infrastructure, resources, and training to improve coffee yield and quality. Maraba also offers organic pesticides at a discount and produces its own organic fertilizer. Training on sustainable farming practices, such as intercropping, is regularly provided. The cooperative's dry mill, built in 2006, enhances quality control and job creation in the Huye District. Maraba's careful processing methods ensure high-quality coffee, contributing to the cooperative's success and the economic stability of its members.

Country of Origin Rwanda
Region Huye District
Producer Type Cooperative
Farm Name Various woman producers
Processing Washed
Processing Description Sun-dried on raised beds
Growing Altitude 1700m
Harvest Season 2023/24
Bag Weight 60 KG BAG
Bag Type Grain Pro / Ecotact
Plant Species Arabica
Variety Red Bourbon

History of Coffee in Rwanda 

The commercialization of coffee came about gradually in Rwanda and coffee was always produced on smallholder farms. Independence brought some improvement to the coffee infrastructure as the government established more modern and centralizing processing. But this meant the government set the price they would pay for coffee and farmers had no other options. There was no focus on quality because there was no incentive whatsoever. Despite much of the coffee being Bourbon, there was no sorting or grading so all the coffee was commercial grade. Rwanda exported 642,000 bags of coffee in 1993 and 447,000 in 1994. Then, as something of a stark reminder of the genocide, Rwanda exported a mere 22,000 bags in 1995. Today, Rwanda exports only 43% of what it did in 1993, but current exports represent much greater value because for the last 20 years the focus has been on quality rather than quantity, supported by various initiatives of the Rwandan government and international NGOs. 

Growing Coffee in Rwanda

Rwanda’s ideal growing conditions are no longer wasted on poor processing. New washing stations have opened in all coffee growing regions, innovative cupping labs that arrive built into shipping containers, and cooperatives have been established. The vast majority of Rwanda's smallholder farmers grow high-quality Bourbon, well-suited to the high altitudes and volcanic soil of the region. For the last 10 years, Rwandan specialty coffees consistently rank among the finest in the world. 

  • Region Huye District
  • Farm Name Various woman producers
  • Producer Type Cooperative
  • Processing Washed
  • Processing Description Sun-dried on raised beds
  • Bag Type Grain Pro / Ecotact
  • Plant Species Arabica
  • Variety Red Bourbon
  • Min Growing Altitude 1700m
  • On Sale No
  • Top Lot Yes
  • Status Spot
  • Coffee Grade RWA CA FW SC 15+
  • CTRM Contract Number P612868-1
  • Country of Origin Rwanda
  • Warehouse The Annex CA