TechnoServe has launched a new initiative to help the ongoing revitalization of the Rwandan coffee industry, and is resuming work in the country after a 12 year hiatus caused by the civil war. Rwandans face many challenges in their struggle to recover from the 1990s civil war and genocide. One thing working in their favour is that their country boasts nearly ideal conditions for growing high quality Arabica coffee. Nevertheless, most coffee farmers are barely scraping by, hampered by inefficient agricultural practices and poor logistics. Now, thanks to a generous gift by a small group of private donors, TechnoServe is helping the farmers capitalize on this opportunity and create a sustainable economic base that will improve the standard of living for their families and communities, while also bringing much-needed foreign exchange earnings into the country. TechnoServe aims to reposition Rwanda as a leading producer of specialty coffee by helping turn coffee co-operatives (representing 12,000 farmers) into professionally-run businesses. “Our business advisors will teach business skills and help farmers boost production and improve quality, for example by assisting cooperatives to set up and operate coffee washing stations. The end result should be almost a doubling of the farmers’ income in four years,” said TechnoServe in a statement.   28 March 2007