Meet Immacule, a Female Rwandan Coffee Grower

At St Remio, we want to encourage people to think about where their cup of coffee is coming from, and most importantly, celebrate the people behind it.

In every cup of coffee you enjoy, there is 1000 stories behind it. That’s the impact of each cup of coffee. Alongside sourcing sustainable, Rainforest Alliance coffee, we are also committed to giving back and supporting growing communities at origin.

We had a chat to a female Rwandan Coffee grower, Immacule (MUKANGANIZI  to learn about her story and role as coffee grower.

Tell me about yourself. Do you have children? Are you married? What do you enjoy doing?

I have 3 children, 2 girls and 1 boy. I am a widower.

I enjoy gathering with other Cocagi Femme members and exchanging ideas about the coffee growing business.

Tell me about your role in coffee growing and what a typical day looks like for you. How long have you been growing coffee?

My role in coffee growing is to coordinate all activities within the plantation that increase good coffee growing. These activities range from harvesting to the washing station; and can include tasks like weeding and mulching.

I have been in coffee growing for 41 years.

What made you choose to work in coffee? Did your parents work in coffee? And if so, how long did they do it for?

The coffee is a cash crop. It is marketable internationally and locally. Because of this, working in coffee helps resolve economic and social problems.

Yes, my parents both worked in coffee for over 50 years.

What does having a certification like Rainforest Alliance mean for coffee growers like yourself?

To have a certification like Rainforest Alliance is so special because it provides assistance with sustainable coffee-growing activities such as management, traceability, and shared responsibility. As a result, this assistance increases the income for coffee farmers. It has a big social and environmental impact.

What is the hardest part of coffee growing and the challenges you face?

The hardest part of coffee growing is the land preparation up to early production.

What motivates you each day?

Having a good harvest keeps me motivated, this is because the money gained from that helps resolve many problems like the cost of health insurance and helps fund school materials.

What is it like to be a part of Cocagi Femme and how do you support each other?

I have my own coffee plantation, look after it and manage it from plant to harvest. To be part of Cocagi Femme teaches me new farming methods and the sharing of ideas and solutions for problem solving in farming. By working together, we get new perspectives that help us improve our crop.

What would you like to see change about the coffee industry?

The price of coffee cherries. If the price is increased, it will encourage farmers to increase their coffee planation space.

What makes Rwandan coffee so special?

Rwandan coffee is so special because it has good traceability from the plantation and production stages to the washing station.

What do you love most about RWANDA?

The good leadership is what I love most. It gives peace and security, which in turn increases tourists in our country.

Anything else you would like to say?

I would like to say thank you for the partnership between Cocagi femme and St Remio. I hope it continues and that it can increase the number of female coffee farmers joining the Cocagi femme organisation.

By purchasing St Remio Coffee you are choosing to empower female coffee farmers like Francine. That's the St Remio difference! 

Make the change today!