Rwanda Rugali Washing Station

Location & Growing Conditions

The Rugali washing station is located on the shores of Lake Kivu, in the Nyamasheke district, western Rwanda. With 124 drying beds, the station serves 1,150 farmers who deliver cherries to this station. Rugali has five full-time staff members and expands to 180 seasonal workers during the harvest season.

Muraho, our partner in Rwanda this year, who work directly with small producers in five washing stations located in two of the main coffee-growing areas of the country. Muraho’s objective is to promote better agricultural practices and with this, increase the quality and volume of production, thus improving the quality of life of coffee growers. Last season, Muraho developed nurseries for a total of 110,000 coffee trees (Kilimbi 50,000 and Rugali 60,000) and distributed them to coffee growers in the Nyamasheke district. This crop renewal program is much needed, as a large percentage of African coffee trees are between 40 and 50 years old and their yields are low.