Mahembe Coffee: A cherry producer, green bean processor, and trader in the Rwandan coffee sector

This case study examines Mahembe Coffee, a small and medium-sized enterprise in Rwanda that operates as a coffee cherry producer, green bean processor, and exporter. The document assesses the company's alignment with the Committee on World Food Security’s Principles for Responsible Investment in Agriculture and Food Systems (CFS-RAI) using the RAI Tool for Agribusiness. While the company demonstrates high compliance driven by the founder's social ethos, the report highlights risks associated with the lack of formalised policies and an ageing farmer population.

• Mahembe Coffee demonstrates high compliance with several RAI dimensions, including strategy and accountability, inclusive structure, and environmental sustainability. The company's strategy includes a commitment to dedicate "10% of company profits to be dedicated to community development," which funds farmer bonuses and local projects.
• The company faces a critical demographic risk regarding its supply chain, estimating that "70% of suppliers are aged over 60." Management predicts a potential loss of "48% of its supply in the next 15 years" if older farmers retire and youth do not enter the sector.
• Mahembe Coffee supports local food security and nutrition by providing free fruit tree seedlings, such as mango and avocado, to serve as shade trees for coffee. However, the company lacks formalised food safety policies beyond compliance with official inspections.
• The company implements environmentally sustainable practices, including erosion control on steep lands and the use of solar facilities, making it "80% self-reliant on power." It also ensures that chemical containers are collected and sent to a recycling plant in Kigali.
• Human resource practices show high participation of women and youth, with women making up "44% of permanent and 55% of seasonal staff" and youth representing "89% of permanent staff." However, a significant gap exists in formalisation, as many employees lack written contracts and rely on "verbal engagement."
• Mahembe Coffee provides financial support to farmers through interest-free loans for school fees and by encouraging the formation of savings and credit groups. The company also pays for cherry above the minimum price set by the National Agricultural Export Development Board (NAEB), paying "RWF 800/kg for cherry when the minimum price set by NAEB was RWF 410/kg" in the last season.
• The company's high RAI alignment is primarily sustained by the values of the sole shareholder and founder. The report warns that this "community- and development-centric business culture may wane" as the business evolves or shifts to the next generation of owners.
• To mitigate future risks, the report recommends that Mahembe Coffee formalise its operational principles through documented policies, develop a food safety procedure, and create a more direct pricing link between cherry and green bean prices.

APA

Mirza, H., & Pringle, D. (2024). Mahembe Coffee: A cherry producer, green bean processor, and trader in the Rwandan coffee sector. International Institute for Sustainable Development. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2024-08/responsible-agricultural-investment-rwanda-mahembe-coffee.pdf

Chicago

Mirza, Hafiz, and Duncan Pringle. Mahembe Coffee: A cherry producer, green bean processor, and trader in the Rwandan coffee sector. International Institute for Sustainable Development, 2024. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2024-08/responsible-agricultural-investment-rwanda-mahembe-coffee.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Mirza |first1=Hafiz |last2=Pringle |first2=Duncan |title=Mahembe Coffee: A cherry producer, green bean processor, and trader in the Rwandan coffee sector |publisher=International Institute for Sustainable Development |date=June 2024 |url=https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2024-08/responsible-agricultural-investment-rwanda-mahembe-coffee.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{mirza2024mahembe, author = {Mirza, Hafiz and Pringle, Duncan}, title = {{Mahembe Coffee: A cherry producer, green bean processor, and trader in the Rwandan coffee sector}}, institution = {International Institute for Sustainable Development}, year = {2024}, month = jun, url = {https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2024-08/responsible-agricultural-investment-rwanda-mahembe-coffee.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }