The ceremony took place at the offices of the cooperative in Rwamitembe Village, Cyamuhinda Cell, Muko Sector of Gicumbi District on 11th May 2022.

The training was organized and facilitated by Sustainable Growers Rwanda on the support of Bloomberg Philanthropies’ generous support in collaboration with the National Agricultural Export Development Board (NAEB).

Sustainable Growers helps women coffee farmers to align their efforts with the government’s larger national goals to improve productivity, quality, and build market access for the coffee sector. The effective training, trade, and public-private partnership model promotes the economic inclusion of women farmers and their families.

Since 2014, Sustainable Growers Rwanda has worked in 13 districts and supported 77 cooperatives, 25 coffee washing stations, and 38,056 women coffee farmers, as direct beneficiaries. The farmers received training in teams of 15 led by women extension leaders.

The ceremony held recently was also attended by officials from Gicumbi District, the management of Women for Women Rwanda, Sustainable Growers and coffee farmers.

During the graduation ceremony, farmers received certificates of completion while those with outstanding efforts in best agricultural practices among others, were rewarded with different types of assets through ‘Wakoze neza Muhinzi’ program.

These include livestock (cows and goats), specific farm equipment (sprayers, pruning shears, pruning saws, hoes, fork hoes), basic home materials (mattresses, fabrics/ibitenge, radios, and phones).

The prizes include 1 cow, 167 goats, 77 mattresses, 30 hoes, 108 fork hoes, 53 radios and 131 phones among others worth Rwf18 million.

“Through our program called Premium Sharing Rewards (PSR), a program known as “Wakoze neza Muhinzi” in Kinyarwanda, we reward women coffee farmers for implementing Best Agricultural Practices “BAP” and adopting Government Initiatives such as Health Insurance, Establishing Kitchen Gardens, School Enrolment, Clean Home Latrines, and Ejo Heza.

PSR is an important pillar of our program because it is through this program that farmers are monitored and evaluated by our Monitoring and Evaluation team based on individual coffee plantations over a period of 12 months. For each of the training programs, farmers are given scores based on their performance and at the end of the year they receive a certificate of completion and incentives based on their performance as a way of motivating them”; said Mrs. Christine Condo, Sustainable Growers Executive Director.

“We have a heavy agenda to enrich women’s potential with skills and means. Their focus and discipline inspire me greatly. These initiatives impact positively on the entire life-cycle of their respective families and communities,” Mrs. Christine Condo added.

“The graduation festivities mark the accomplishment of a significant milestone by both the women coffee farmers and Sustainable Growers,” stated Lambert, the Sustainable Growers Director.

Mrs. Florence Niyomahoro, a coffee farmer and president of Mayogi Cooperative highlighted that working with Sustainable Growers has contributed to the growth of the cooperative.

“Today, the cooperative members have learned the coffee value chain from seed to cup. Not only do we have a well-managed cooperative, but our members also know all the techniques required to grow good coffee and to process different types of coffee among them Fully Washed Coffee, Honey, or Natural Processed Coffee,” said Niyomahoro.

“During harvesting time, we can cup our coffee using our cupping lab with the support from our professional Quality Control Manager as well as brewing coffee for either our guests or farmers using the coffee-making equipment that is available at the cooperative level. We have been able to do all this due to the support of Sustainable Growers. Thanks to Sustainable Growers, today our coffee can score 90+ SCAA which is categorized as presidential coffee,” concluded Niyomahoro.

The Executive Secretary of Gicumbi District, Moses Kirenga thanked Sustainable Growers for training farmers and handed over prizes.

“I thank Women for Women and Sustainable Growers for close collaboration with different institutions and promoting Rwandan woman. I also want to extend my appreciation to Rwanda’s good leadership for making these efforts possible for the interests of citizens,” he said.

Kirenga urged farmers to take advantage of received training to promote coffee as one of cash crops to grow their income.

The ceremony will continue in more districts of intervention including Gakenke, Kayonza, Nyaruguru, Rusizi and Nyamasheke until 2nd June 2022.

Beneficiaries were trained on best coffee farming practices and processing.

Hoes are among farm equipment donated to farmers.

It was glamour as farmers received certificates.