Rwanda is a very small and densely populated country with a population that depends largely on subsistence agriculture for their livelihoods. This dependence, coupled with a limited land base, small landholdings, a high population growth rate, declining agricultural productivity, high rates of illiteracy, and limited opportunities outside of subsistence agriculture contribute to low incomes and high rates of poverty.

The Government of Rwanda’s Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP) identifies agriculture as the primary engine for growth. It sets forth a strategy to build on the country’s core strengths in agriculture to increase economic growth and combat poverty in the medium term. Rwanda’s environment is ideal for producing distinctive coffees and enhancing the capacity of Rwanda’s coffee sector to target high value specialty markets worldwide is one element of the strategy.