Coffee growers in Rwanda share the development dividends of Chinese market

The burgeoning coffee market in China has brought huge opportunities and positive changes to Rwanda coffee growers as they share the development dividends of the world’s second-largest economy.

In an exemplary case, Epiphanie Ndacyayisenga runs her family’s coffee farm in Rwanda. Besides cultivating beans, she has been sowing seeds for the future by expanding the business into China with her husband.

Each morning, she takes charge of the growers as they sort and dry the freshly picked coffee beans. She learned coffee cultivation from her parents, a skill passed down through generations. So far, she oversees the farm operations with her husband.

“When I decided to marry, I found myself a coffee farmer. Thanks to his coffee farm and my coffee-growing skills, we’ve been able to combine our efforts and expand the business,” she said.

The income from coffee supports her family. Entry into the Chinese market has improved their living conditions to a very significant degree.

“In the past, life was difficult. With our coffee gaining popularity, especially in large countries like China, we have better opportunities. This is great news for us farmers,” she said.

Now, as her family are living a better-off life, her horizons are widening, and she is setting her sights on global opportunities.