The MSU Pearl Program in Rwanda
In the year 2000, the Michigan State University Institute for International Agriculture (IIA), funded by USAID, initiated the PEARL Project (Partnership for Enhancing Agriculture in Rwanda through Linkages). This partnership was conceived by Dr. Dan Clay, Director of IIA at Michigan State University, and Dr. Emile Rwanasirabo, Rector of the National University of Rwanda. Dr. Timothy Schilling, a Texas A&M agronomist with significant experience leading USAID initiatives, agreed to direct the project. Their goal was to assist Rwandan rural communities and agricultural institutions to work together rebuilding after the devastating war and genocide of 1994. PEARL sought to achieve this goal in a dramatic way, developing an economic engine for the Rwandan agricultural economy that would be successful and sustainable for Rwandan growers over the long term.
Coffee is traditionally the largest export crop in Rwanda. However, with the global decline in coffee prices compounded by the economic impacts of the genocide, there was little or no incentive to grow coffee. Together with its partners, the PEARL Project identified the potential for Rwanda to enter the “specialty coffee” market which paid significantly higher prices to growers, especially under Fair Trade agreements. Industry consultants concurred—Rwanda possessed all the components for the production of specialty coffee: skilled coffee growers, heirloom trees (Arabica Bourbon) and ideal environmental conditions including high altitudes, rainfall and rich volcanic soils.
PEARL began by developing one growers’ cooperative in 2001 with a membership of 250. After six years of intensive work, with growers gaining knowledge in all aspects of coffee production from quality control to financial management, the PEARL Project successfully launched over a dozen coffee cooperatives in Rwanda with an average membership of 2000 growers. In addition PEARL helped cooperatives establish their own coffee federation, the only registered specialty coffee export and marketing company in Rwanda.
Today over 30,000 farm families are receiving double their pre-project income. The economic impact of the PEARL Project is clearly evidenced among the specialty coffee farmers who now have increased access to education, healthcare and improvements in housing. Moreover, PEARL has instituted a comprehensive strategy for sustainability to insure that increasing numbers of coffee farmers enjoy a reliable source of income well into the future.
For more information contact:
Daniel C. Clay, Professor and Director
Institute of International Agriculture
Michigan State University
319 Agriculture Hall
East Lansing, MI 48824
tel: 517-353-1309 (direct)
517-355-0174 (reception)
fax: 517-353-1888
e-mail: clay@msu.edu
Photos courtesy of Gilles Tordjeman
