Meet Dafrose, A COCAGI Femme Coffee Grower
At St Remio, we want to encourage people to think about where their coffee comes from, and the impact that their purchase has on the lives of female coffee farmers at origin. To really understand coffee, we must understand the role we play within it, because our choices can either perpetuate the cycle of poverty, or break it.
In our most recent farmer interview, we spoke to COCAGI Femme member and Rwandan coffee grower, Dafrose Mukanyabyenda, to learn about her story and role as a coffee grower.
1. Tell me about yourself. Do you have children? Are you married? What do you enjoy doing?
My name is Dafrose Mukanyabyenda. I live in Rwanda, I'm 57 years old, and I have five children, three girls and two boys. I was married in 1978, but my husband passed away. In 1998 I remarried, and we're still together. I've loved growing coffee since I was young, just like my parents before me, who were also coffee growers.
2. Tell me about your role in coffee growing and what a day looks like for you.
My role on the coffee plantation includes harvesting quality cherries by picking only the well-ripened ones, along with weeding, pruning, and fertilising as part of ongoing maintenance. I became a good coffee grower because my parents encouraged me from a young age, and now my husband helps too, taking care of other maintenance work.
3. What made you choose to work in coffee?
What motivates me each day is the steady income, because during harvesting season we get paid weekly as we harvest. But more than that, I genuinely love coffee.
4. What is it like to be part of Cocagi Femme and how do you support each other?
I'm a member of COCAGI Femme, and I love being part of it. Coming together changes your mindset, thanks to the training that improves our knowledge. It's also easier to access loans as a group when unexpected problems come up, and there's more clarity around our development plans and how to put them into action for our families. Being in a group means different good ideas come together as a team.
5. What would you like to see change about the coffee industry?
We need more support for the coffee industry, like storage for our parchment coffee, help marketing our coffee (called AGASARO Women's Coffee), and finding more clients willing to pay a higher price for Rwandan coffee. We'd also benefit from more training in agricultural practices, and materials like pruning tools, pesticide and insecticide spraying equipment, protective gear, proper storage for parchment, and new hulling machines.
Rwandan coffee could become even more special if some of the older machinery in the industry were replaced, if we moved toward organic fertilisation, and if farmers received more training on new innovations that could be applied on the plantation. Easier transport for farmers coming from the washing station, and better traceability from farmer to shipment, would also help.
6. What makes Rwandan coffee so special?
Rwanda is a wonderful country. There are opportunities for women, security, and education for everyone, no matter your age, you can study without any barriers. There's no discrimination in any service, no harassment, no child or forced labour, and no deforestation. It's a great climate to live in. Welcome!
7. Anything else you would like to say?
I'm thankful to everyone who supports women, especially St Remio, who has helped us grow our largest coffee plantation as women. Your support means so much to our plantation, our families, our cooperative, and our country as a whole. My sister Julia, we love you so much, and thank you to all the organisations involved in the coffee community.
I'll be with you always. Love you!
By purchasing St Remio coffee, you're choosing to empower women like Dafrose, giving her and the COCAGI Femme cooperative the tools, training, and opportunity to keep growing. That's the impact of your cup.
Make the change today! Shop the full St Remio coffee range online.
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