A kilogram of coffee from K-Organics in Huye District sold for a record $452, equivalent to approximately Rwf 670,000, at the Best of Rwanda auction on October 21st. The anaerobic natural lot achieved a score of 90.74 points in the competition, reflecting the transformation of Rwanda's coffee sector from producing low-grade, semi-washed commodity coffee in the 1990s to today's specialty product that commands international recognition and premium prices.
The shift has been underpinned by structural changes across the entire value chain. Export reforms, private investment, washing stations, cooperatives, quality standards, and relationships with international buyers have reshaped how Rwandan coffee reaches global consumers. The National Agricultural Export Development Board (NAEB) has played a central role in stewardship of these changes, coordinating improvements in production, specialized processing, and rigorous quality assessment.
According to the NAEB, farmers who supply cherries to processors are allocated 75 per cent of Best of Rwanda auction revenues. Dr Agnes Kalibata, former UN Special Envoy for the 2021 Food Systems Summit and former President of AGRA, welcomed the record price while calling for fair rewards to be extended to more producers, emphasizing the need to spread premium market benefits beyond current participants.
The coffee success reflects broader policy shifts in Rwanda's agricultural development. The Fifth Strategic Plan for Agriculture Transformation, launched in December 2024, places resilient and sustainable food systems at the centre of strategy. The Rwanda Food Innovation Ecosystem Strategy 2026 to 2035 reinforces this approach through the Rwanda Food Innovation Partnership, which aims to connect researchers, innovators, investors, regulators and businesses to commercialize and scale new ideas across multiple value chains.
Realizing these ambitions requires coordinated action across government institutions and the private sector. Success depends on integrating the work of the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources with health services, environmental authorities, trade and infrastructure institutions, finance bodies, and district authorities. The approach signals recognition that technical improvements in farming alone are insufficient without matching improvements in markets, distribution, buyer relationships, and commercial incentives throughout the system.