Rwanda is taking measures to increase coffee production and exports, including developing six new coffee varieties to complement the Arabica varieties currently grown in the country.
The measures were announced on August 28, 2026, during an event where the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources, in partnership with the National Agricultural Export Development Board (NAEB) and other stakeholders, awarded 25 coffees that emerged among the best in the 2026 Rwanda Cup of Excellence competition.
K-Organic Company from Huye District took first place for the second consecutive year.
The annual competition, launched in 2024, aims to recognise coffee farmers, processors and exporters, promote Rwandan coffee internationally and increase the value of Rwandan coffee.
This year’s competition received 320 coffee entries from different parts of the country, compared with 316 entries in 2025. Of these, 147 passed the first stage, while 50 advanced to the national level, from which 25 coffees were selected for their potential to represent Rwanda on international markets.
Exporters call for more coffee varieties
Baragahorana Oretse, representing coffee exporters, said Rwanda needs to diversify the coffee varieties grown in the country to increase production and remain competitive in international markets.
He said about 99% of coffee grown in Rwanda is Arabica, but argued that the existing varieties are no longer sufficient to deliver the production levels needed.
“Research is needed for us to keep pace with the world, both in terms of quantity and quality, because other countries are not standing still and we have to compete with them. In Rwanda, we have one type of Arabica that we grow, but others have more than 40 varieties. We therefore need more varieties that can compete with those of other countries.”
Government seeks at least 50% increase
Minister of Agriculture and Animal Resources Dr Telesphore Ndabamenye said Rwanda’s coffee production remains below its potential and called for increased production and improved quality.
He said the government wants to increase the volume of coffee exported by at least 50%.
“We want to increase the volume of coffee exported. Over the past five years, we have increased coffee exports from 22,000 tonnes to 28,000 tonnes annually, but we need to increase that by at least 50%.”
Ndabamenye said achieving the target will require improvements in coffee quality and diversification of coffee varieties.
He said six new varieties have already been developed to complement the Arabica varieties currently grown in Rwanda.
“Research is ongoing. We are working with NAEB to ensure that the varieties that have already been developed are quickly multiplied into seedlings suited to the soils where they will be planted. We will then use them to replace old coffee trees that are no longer productive.”
Coffee prices increase
NAEB Director General Claude Bizimana said the competition has produced positive results since it was launched two years ago, particularly in increasing the value of Rwandan coffee.
He said the average price of Rwandan coffee increased from $24.77 per kilogramme to $27.20 per kilogramme.
The highest price also increased from $71.87 to $88.18 per kilogramme.
In the specially processed coffee category, K-Organics from Huye District took first place, while Cyeza coffee from Muhanga District won the fully washed coffee category.
Other coffees recognised in the industrial processing category included those from Abahuzamugambi ba Kawa-Maraba Cooperative, RWACOF and CAFERWA, among others.
In the natural processing category, recognised coffees included those from Ubuntu, Abateraninkunga ba Sholi Cooperative, IMPEXCOR Ltd and Baho Coffee Company Ltd.
Rwanda to expand coffee-growing area
Rwanda currently has about 42,000 hectares under coffee cultivation.
Minister Ndabamenye said the government plans to add another 10,000 hectares over the next five years.
Between 2020 and 2025, coffee generated more than RWF 773 billion in export revenues for Rwanda, equivalent to about $527 million.
Under the fifth Strategic Plan for Agriculture Transformation (PSTA 5), which runs until 2029, Rwanda aims to generate $160 million from coffee exports through increased production and improved quality.
The government is therefore focusing on replacing ageing coffee trees, introducing new varieties, expanding the area under cultivation and improving coffee quality to increase Rwanda’s production and earnings from international markets.
