More than two million coffee seedlings are being distributed to residents of four sectors in Karongi District, Western Province, as local authorities seek to reduce poverty and create more reliable sources of income.
The beneficiaries live in Murundi, Murambi, Ruganda and Gashari, which are among the district’s most poverty-stricken areas.
The four sectors face several challenges, including steep terrain and frequent climate-related disasters. Residents say these conditions, combined with poor soil quality, make it difficult for them to harvest enough food and generate surplus income from farming.
One resident said the soil is hard and acidic and affected by pests, making it difficult to achieve good yields.
Gashari Sector alone has more than 1,000 households living in poverty, according to local authorities.
To address the problem, authorities have established nurseries to raise coffee and tea seedlings for distribution to residents. The two crops are considered suitable for acidic soils and could provide farmers with more reliable income.
Farmers in other parts of the district who have grown coffee and tea for years say the crops have helped improve their livelihoods. They note that the plants remain productive for years and create employment opportunities for many people.
Karongi District Vice Mayor for Economic Affairs Julienne Ntakirutimana told Rwanda Broadcasting Agency (RBA) that the district had chosen to promote coffee and tea because they can withstand changing climatic conditions and generate regular income.
“We have sectors where poverty is widespread, and we decided that residents in those areas should grow coffee and tea,” she said.
Under the plan, Ruganda will receive 1.8 million seedlings, while Gashari will receive 300,000. Murundi is allocated 150,000 seedlings, and Murambi 100,000.
Karongi is among Rwanda’s 10 districts with the highest poverty rates, with 38 per cent of its population living in poverty. The most severe poverty is concentrated in Gashari, Murundi, Murambi and Ruganda, according to the report.
