We are thrilled to offer coffee from the Humure washing station for the second year in a row. This lot is particularly special as it was produced by Athanase Ndagijimana, one of only four single farmers Sundog Trading was able to purchase from during the 2020 season. It is no easy feat to keep small coffee lots separate throughout the entire process of cherry collection, fermentation, drying, storage, milling, and export so this coffee represents an exciting development in traceability and producer-level relationships in Rwanda. 

Humure washing station, named after the highest hill in the area, is located in the Eastern Province of Rwanda. It was newly constructed in 2017 and Emmanuel Rusatira of exporter Baho Coffee purchased the station in 2018 after watching it be very poorly managed. He has significantly invested in infrastructure—new fermentation tanks, new washing channels, and larger storage units—thus increasing production capacity by nearly 20 times in the past two years. Humure is currently the largest station that Emmanuel owns, producing just over 4 containers (1,300+ 60kg bags) annually and employing 220 people during the peak of the season. Humure’s main station manager is a woman, which serves as an example of Baho’s widespread investment in gender equity in Rwandese coffee. 

Emmanuel focused heavily this year on growing Baho’s seedling distribution program; 50,000 were distributed to the Humure farmers in 2019. Emmanuel has found that with his higher cherry prices, producers are becoming rapidly more interested in investing in their coffee farms and growing future production.

Athanase Ndagijimana

Coffee Shop and Roastery located at the Southern Bleachery and Taylors Mill.

Athanase Ndagijimana

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Athanase Ndagijimana

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