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 COOPAC
is located at the foot of the seven volcanoes in the north of Rwanda,
where the soil is rich. The high altitude and heavy rainfall on the shores
of Lake Kivu provide perfect growing conditions for one of the finest
Arabica coffees in the world. COOPAC was established on April 14, 2001
by Emmanuel Rwakagara Nzungize, the Managing Director. After spending
30 years in the Congo, where he grew up, Emmanuel returned to his native
county to refound the cooperative initially created by his father in the
1950s.
COOPAC is
a cooperative of Rwandan coffee farmers with a washing station situated
near Gisenyi beside Lake Kivu. The cooperative started out with 110 members
from the two districts of Rubavu and Rutsiro. Today, COOPAC comprises
2,200 members from the six areas of Ack, Ubuzima, Tuzamurane, Kopabm,
Abakundakurima and Abanyamurava.
A large, modern COOPAC coffee washing station
was officially inaugurated in April 2003 by President Paul Kagame and
the United States Ambassador to Rwanda, Margaret McMillion. Financial
and technical assistance for its construction were provided by ACDI-VOCA,
an affiliate of USAID. COOPAC is certified by Fair Trade and sold in supermarkets
and other outlets in Rwanda, the USA and France.
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