The Challenges of Sustainability of Coffee Projects in Rwanda: A Case Study of Coffee Washing Stations in Rwamagana

ABSTRACT The study was carried out in Rwamagana district in Rwanda. It was carried out on the challenges of sustainability of coffee projects in Rwanda using a case study of coffee washing stations in Rwamagana. The main objectives of the study were to examine the contributions of coffee washing stations in promotion of sustainable development of coffee industry, to establish the challenges of sustaining coffee washing stations and to identify the strategies being adopted to enhance the sustainability of coffee washing stations in Rwamagana district. The researcher used an exploratory research design to detailed information about the key concepts of the study, the study focused on the coffee formers, management of the coffee washing stations and government officials from the Ministry of Agriculture as the study population. A sample size of 120 respondents were selected using simple random sampling and purposive sampling and the collected data was analyzed thematically according to research questions and presented in form of pie charts and tables. From the study findings, it was found out that coffee washing stations played crucial roles in ensuring the sustainable development of coffee industry among which included provision of market for coffee from farmers, provisions of loans to the farmers, improving the quality of coffee and stabilizing of coffee prices. Coffee washing stations faced a lot of challenges which included lack of enough finances, poor infrastructures, market competition failing to repay back loans by farmers and the poor quality of coffee. However, various strategies were being adopted to enhance the sustainability of coffee washing stations these strategies included rehabilitation of roads, improving, on the breeds of coffee getting loans from the Central Bank and sensitization of farmers on the better methods of farming and marketing interventions.