The Relationship between Coffee and Climate Factors: Case of Rwanda

Abstract

Coffee is one of the most valuable cash crops in Rwanda. Coffee production in Rwanda stands high among three different export crops such as tea, pyrethrum, and was recently set as priority crop where more attention should be concentrated. This study estimates the impact of climate change and variation on coffee yield in Huye district, southern province of Rwanda. In this research both secondary and primary data were used and primary data were gathered from a random sample of 110 households in HUYE District. Coffee farmers were interviewed in August-September 2016 using structured questionnaires that were administered to household‘s heads via person-interviews. Climate data (temperature and precipitation) were collected from the Rwanda Meteorological Station located in RUBONA Station. The results from climate change model has revealed that approximately 74% of change in the coffee production during the last 17 years was explained by climate factors jointly. The results indicate that coffee farms near Huye Mountain are highly vulnerable to precipitation variation like erosion during heavy rain in March through May and drought from June through August.