This Saturday 30 June 2012 the Southern Province celebrated Coffee Day; ceremonies that took place in Simbi Sector, Huye District.

These ceremonies were attended by different senior officials including the Executive Secretary of the Southern Province Madam Jeanne IZABILIZA who was also the guest of honor, the Mayor of Huye District Mr. Eugene MUZUKA, the Army and Police Commanders in the Southern Province, the Deputy Director General in the National Agricultural Export Board(NAEB) Mr. Corneille NTAKIRUTIMANA and a large number of local residents of Simbi Sector and its neighboring areas.

Mr. Corneille declared that the aim of this Day was to encourage the population not to limit themselves just on producing coffee but also to taste it and use it in their households.

He also affirmed that Rwanda Coffee is on a good standard on the International market and encouraged them to take good care of it and increase its production both in quality and quantity.

Mr. Corneille also encouraged coffee farmers to be associated in cooperatives in order to ease their access on bank loans and materials and declared that now only 20% are in cooperatives but the target is to reach 90% in next 5 years and that now the price of coffee per Kg is 170-310.

The representative of Coffee in this area Madam Bernadette MUKARUSHEMA thanked the Government of Unity for having thought of promoting Coffee plant and the value that it has on the International scene and promised that they are going to work harder and smarter to give good care to coffee which is the main source of financial income.

The Executive Secretary of the Southern Province Madam Jeanne IZABILIZA thanked the population for having attended massively to this special event and rejoiced for this day and congratulated all those from far or near have contributed in the organization of this day and urged the Coffee farmers to look after this plant properly and insure to increase production both in quality and quantity.

Jean Paul BYIRINGIRO

Southern Province