How Coffee Farming Transformed a Rwandan Family’s Future
Discover how hands-on training helped a Rwandan father increase his income, educate his kids, and build a better life for his family.
Before Coffee Farming Training
Ten years ago, Biruta Jean Bosco stood in his coffee fields in Musumba Village, Rwanda, wondering how he would pay school fees for his five children. His 403 coffee trees produced barely enough to keep the family afloat. He worked hard using traditional methods, but the results never matched his effort.
Before Biruta joined TechnoServe’s Coffee Initiative, funded by the Gates Foundation, he farmed without understanding agricultural best practices for coffee. He didn’t know how to prune, apply proper mulch, keep farm records, or weed effectively. He would hack at weeds with a hoe, sometimes cutting through the feeder roots that nourish coffee trees. He could only remove suckers but didn’t know proper pruning techniques.
The results were discouraging. His coffee production was very low compared to the effort he was investing. It was challenging to pay school fees for his four children and keep up with health insurance payments for the family. Still, he had good hope for the future.
Coffee Farming Best Practices That Changed Biruta’s Life
When TechnoServe’s program became available in his area, Biruta learned best practices for coffee cultivation. The trainers taught him to properly mulch by leaving a 10 cm space from the coffee tree to prevent pests and diseases. He learned how to prune by creating a center opening and removing branches that touch the ground. He discovered that weeding under the tree canopy should be done by hand, rather than with a hoe that might damage the roots. He also learned how to make compost, which reduces the amount of chemical fertilizer needed for the coffee trees.
His favorite lesson was learning how to keep accurate farm records, including which records to keep and where to store them. This practice even helped him secure a loan from the bank.
From Low Yields to Sustainable Income: Real Results of Better Coffee Farming
The changes transformed his farm. Through the adoption of best practices, his coffee production increased in both quantity and quality, resulting in a corresponding rise in his income.
The numbers are striking. Biruta’s coffee yield increased by 165%. Additionally, his income increased nearly 13-fold, though it fluctuates depending on changes in the price of coffee cherries.
Education, Health, and Hope: How Coffee Farming Lifted a Rwandan Family
Since Biruta first joined the program, his family’s situation has improved significantly. The increased income allowed him to pay school fees for his children, purchase a cow that provides milk and manure, and use his well-maintained farm as collateral for a bank loan. He installed electricity and water in his house and fitted modern metallic windows.
But the accomplishment he is most proud of is taking his children to university. His firstborn has completed university and has a good job.
“I feel happy and motivated because, through the adoption of best practices, my coffee production has increased both in volume and quality, and the price has also risen,” he said.
What’s Next for Biruta? From Coffee Farmer to Business Builder
Biruta wants to become a businessman and has now moved from Rusizi to Kigali. Looking to the future, he hopes to build a good house in Kigali. He believes the future for his children will be different from his own, since he was able to afford a good education for all of them.
The knowledge Biruta gained from TechnoServe training improved his confidence, and he is now a trainer for other farmers. He hires casual workers to assist with coffee farm activities, including mulching and harvesting.
Ten years later, Biruta still has the same 403 coffee trees, but they are now producing significantly more coffee. Thanks to the improvements, his children are building their futures, and the impact of those early lessons continues to grow.