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USAID and Rwanda Ambassador Celebrate Rwandan Coffee
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 11, 2006
0411-06-032
Press Office: 202-712-4320
Public Information: 202-712-4810
www.usaid.gov
(Left to Right) USAID Assistant Administrator for Economic Growth, Agriculture and Trade, Jacqueline E. Schafer, ; Rwandan Ambassador, Dr. Zac Nsenga; Starbuck's Green Coffee Trader, Alfredo Nuno
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WASHINGTON, DC - TODAY at the Rwandan Embassy, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), along with the Seattle based Starbucks Corporation saluted the Rwandan people for their success in producing a world class coffee. The Rwandan Ambassador, Dr. Zac Nsenga, USAID Assistant Administrator for Economic Growth, Agriculture and Trade, Jacqueline E. Schafer and Starbuck's Green Coffee Trader, Alfredo Nuno were among a group of diplomats, development specialists and embassy personnel who had gathered to taste and celebrate the award winning Blue Bourbon Coffee from Rwanda.
Five years ago, USAID began working with farmers in Rwanda to develop specialty coffee that would bolster the agricultural economy by providing jobs, product and training for the Rwandan people. It seems that the efforts of both of these groups have begun to pay some very nice dividends.
In the farming community known as the "thousand hills" district of Rwanda, the idea for growing specialty coffees was identified and the process began. USAID spent more than $10 million investing in rebuilding local infrastructure and developing coffee washing stations, training for Rwandan farmers and coffee "cuppers" or tasters.
Starbucks, the Seattle based coffee company has provided coffee expertise and training to support this effort. And they have benefited as well. Rwanda now exports a superior coffee that has won the 10th "Black Apron Award" and is being highlighted in 5,000 Starbucks coffee outlets during March and April.
"This investment has really paid off," said Kevin Mullally, USAID/Rwanda Mission Director. "Rwandan farmers are now able to pick, process and export specialty coffee. This is one of Africa's great success stories and we are proud to be part of it."
"People are working together in a way that we would never imagine possible," said Maurice Wiener, who is the director for the coffee project and who works for one of USAID's contractors, Chemonics. The owners of coffee washing stations are telling me that they provide a forum for reconciliation for the survivors of the genocide that visited this region ten years ago."
Income from the specialty coffee production has helped the community to build schools and make home improvements. Coffee worker's children can attend school with the wages earned from coffee.
"This is an extraordinary achievement," said Alfredo Nuno, Green Coffee Trader for Starbucks. He remarked that the coffee stations had only been built a year ago and have accomplished a great deal. "Starbucks is going to sell your coffee as one of the world's best coffees."
The U.S. Agency for International Development has provided economic and humanitarian assistance worldwide for more than 40 years.
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