Rwanda will distribute over 25 million coffee seedlings to revitalize aging plantations. Currently, 26.8 percent of the country’s 42,229 hectares of coffee fields are outdated, according to NAEB.
Eric Kabayiza, SPIU Coordinator at NAEB, announced that community groups are preparing seedlings with a focus on districts such as Karongi, Nyamasheke, and Rusizi. Over 300 nurseries are producing around 9 million seedlings to replace old trees.
This initiative, part of the Promoting Smallholder Agro-Export Competitiveness (PSAC) project, aims to restore 1,000 hectares of coffee plantations and replace 3,000 hectares of old trees. The project responds to farmer requests for better access to seedlings.
Rwanda’s coffee exports in 2023 totaled 20,000 tonnes, generating $116 million.