Bujumbura – QAHWA WORLD

Preliminary reports from Burundi and Rwanda indicate promising prospects for the 2026 coffee harvest, with an estimated combined total of around 40,000 metric tonnes (MT) of high-quality green coffee. Teams in both countries have shared insights on volume, quality, and sustainability initiatives supporting farmers.

Burundi Harvest Outlook

Burundi’s coffee harvest for 2026 is expected to increase by over 60% compared to 2025, reaching approximately 24,000 MT. Favourable weather since mid-August has supported strong flowering, with the harvest expected to start fully around 10 March, about one month earlier than last year. Quality monitoring at washing stations is underway, with initial observations indicating good cherry development. The harvest is expected to continue until July, depending on rainfall.

Sustainability Initiatives in Burundi

This season marks the launch of a major public-private initiative to rejuvenate coffee production. The tree stumping programme involves 14,000 farming households and around 700,000 trees. Combined with planting new seedlings, the programme aims to quadruple productivity within three to five years.

Additionally, all Burundian coffee is now offered as IMPACT-verified, Sucafina’s responsible sourcing programme. Farmers receive training and support to improve environmental and social outcomes while enhancing traceability and quality. Approximately 30,000 smallholder farmers are engaged in these sustainability programmes this year.

Rwanda Harvest Forecast

Rwanda’s 2026 harvest is projected at around 16,000 MT, lower than the previous year due to less favourable flowering conditions, but expected to maintain high quality. The harvest began in mid-February and is expected to continue until late June.

Market and Regulatory Factors

Reduced supply is likely to increase market competition. RWACOF (Sucafina in Rwanda) continues to prioritise exceptional-quality cherry and close monitoring of processing at partner washing stations. A new scalable model has been introduced to expand sourcing areas while mitigating market risks.

Sustainability Initiatives in Rwanda

Sucafina’s sustainability programmes in Rwanda include tree rejuvenation, carbon footprint mapping, and regenerative agriculture. Since 2023, 197,782 trees have been stumped, with over 155,000 in 2025 alone. Farmers received inputs such as lime and organic fertiliser, alongside structured monitoring to track “back-to-production” timelines.

The Farmer Development Program, launched with the London School of Economics, provides training, loans, and tree-planting incentives to 3,735 farmers across five service centres. Agroforestry initiatives have distributed 110,064 shade trees, integrating sustainable practices into the supply chain.

Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLAs) have been scaled, engaging 1,529 members (51% women) and mobilising $30,884 in savings, with 67% loaned to 924 farmers. Over the next six months, Sucafina will establish a 145,000-seedling nursery, expand refresher trainings, and conduct IMPACT verification, expected to make verified coffee available by June 2026.

IMPACT

Burundi and Rwanda Coffee Harvest Update 2026