Socio-economic contribution of coffee to farmers in Rwanda: A case of Muhondo sector, Gakenke district

This paper present results from the study which was aimed to analyse socio economic contribution of coffee to farmers, the case of Muhondo sector, Gakenke district. The study was conducted through Terimbere Kawa Yacu cooperative with sample size of 63 respondents. Data was collected using questionnaires, interviews were tabulated based on the frequencies of responses. The responses were analysed descriptively and reported as percentages as well as presented in charts. The results indicate that coffee growers in the study area, 36 percent of respondents have earned the amount of money above 1080 USD as income per year. The earned income helps coffee farmers to improve farmers’ households especially for schooling their children, getting health insurance and starting small businesses. 84 percent of respondent use their owner money to invest in coffee production while 12 percent use loan from the bank. The low rate of using bank loans is that people in the study area have no reliable information about profitable business because majority of coffee growers attended primary schools and others never attended schools. The income generated from coffee farming contribute to the livelihoods of farmers where 71 percent of income is used in basic needs including food, clothes and shelter, affording domestic animals and other activities that improve their standards of living, 8 percent is used in schooling of children, 11 percent in health insurance and 10 percent is used for starting small off-farm businesses. Coffee improves social life conditions and economic development of coffee farmers. The researcher recommends the government to improve the partnership between National Agriculture and Export Board (NAEB) and its partners to contribute in increase of investment in industry and infrastructure meant, improvement of technical and skills of growers for adding value to coffee. Key words: Coffee, contribution, economic, farmers, social