Coffee had always been Rwanda's main export product since the industry was established in the 1950s, with 77 of the 146 districts producing green coffee. But tea is currently the main source of export revenue. Coffee production has fallen since the genocide of 1994, with only 14,000 tons valued at $15m now being exported compared with 29,000 tons, worth $38m, in 1993. Meanwhile COOPAC has doubled production each year since it was founded in 2001 and currently comprises 2,200 local farmers.

The Rwanda Coffee Working Group, lead by 40 members from private sector, public sector and voluntary organizations, has articulated a vision for Rwanda's coffee industry to: "Generate $120 million in coffee sales by 2010 by focusing on fully-washed high quality coffee".

To achieve this goal, the group has identified a list of clearly-defined initiatives in the areas of production, sales, promotion and organization. Currently sales of high quality coffee continue to increase steadily. Private investors are becoming increasingly interested in new opportunities to develop the coffee industry, particularly in the construction of modern coffee washing stations, modeled upon the COOPAC washing coffee station at Nyamwenda.
Cooperative Pour La Promotion Des Activities-Cafe (COOPAC)
P.O. Box 186, Gisenyi, Rwanda
Telephone: +250 540 869 e-mail: contact@coopac.com