Historically, coffee and tea have been and continue to be major source of export income as they account for around 10% of the total country’ export earnings and more than 80% of agricultural export revenues.  

The Traditional Export Crops Programme is mandated to develop and implement research and technology transfer investigations aiming at increasing crop productivity, ensure the future of the supply chains, improve livelihoods and increase the share of agricultural commodities in export earnings.

Research and technology transfer programme for tea and coffee focus on development of market-driven innovations in system agronomy and advisory services combining:

• development and deployment of market driven coffee and tea varieties combining farmers and consumer preferences with regards to high yield and quality attributes.
• Regular surveillance and monitoring of major pests and diseases followed by the development of sustainable management strategies through plant clinics models
• Development of integrated soil fertility management strategies through soil clinics
• Support the development of coffee and tea seed sector through series of capacity development programmes including foundation (basic) seed production, distribution and skills development for private seed multipliers.
• Mainstreaming climate change adaptation into coffee and tea sectors
•  adaptation to climate change with proximity extension services to sustain the future of coffee supply chain. 
• Mainstreaming proximity extension services into coffee and tea farming systems through the development of extension materials, radio spots, documentaries and organization farmer training sessions.

Dr. Simon Martin Mvuyekure is the Ag. Traditional Export Programme coordinator senior research Fellow since February 2021 for the Rwanda Agriculture and Animal Resources Development Board (RAB). He holds a Master’s Degree in Integrated Agronomy with a specialization in crop improvement and protection from the Université Catholique de Louvain (Belgium) and a Ph.D. in plant breeding from the University of KwaZulu Natal (South Africa). He has 17 years of experience working in coffee and tea research and has directed various research projects on varietal development, coffee pests, and disease management as well as coffee system agronomy. His current research focuses on projects aimed at establishing a regional coffee breeding hub, integrated pests and disease management, integrated soil fertility management climate mainstreaming into the coffee sector in Rwanda, and diversification of farm income through coffee and food systems. He is also involved in proximity extensions and advisory services for the improvement of coffee and tea productivity.

Dr. Simon Martin Mvuyekure

Program Coordinator