Founded in 2004 in Musasa, at over 2,000 meters above sea level, the Dukunde Kawa cooperative is located in the Gakenke district, about 50 km north of Kigali as the crow flies, after more than 2.5 hours on winding dirt roads. Today, it brings together nearly 2,000 producers, around 80% of whom are women.
The cooperative supports its members in adopting sustainable agricultural practices, notably through plot reforestation and the systematic planting of shade trees. When a producer receives a coffee seedling, they are also given a shade tree. At the washing stations, the water used for coffee processing is reused to reduce environmental impact.
Fairtrade certified since 2005, Dukunde Kawa has developed several social and economic projects through Fairtrade premiums. These include the creation of a Farmers Saving Account, enabling producers to access small loans at low interest rates, as well as agronomy training and access to health insurance.
The cooperative also initiated the Musasa Milk project, aimed at diversifying producers’ incomes. Cows are allocated to members, providing natural fertilizer for the fields and allowing milk to be sold back to the cooperative, where it is locally processed into yogurt and other dairy products.
Processed through anaerobic fermentation and certified organic, this Rubyiniro stands out for its sweet and intensely fruity expression, combining caramel with ripe dark fruits. A well-controlled fermentation brings depth and indulgence to a cup that has received excellent scores.
