How Kula Project is Transforming Rwandan Coffee Farming – One Community at a Time

How Kula Project is Transforming Rwandan Coffee Farming – One Community at a Time

In the latest episode of The Cupping Table podcast, David Paparelli sat down in London with Nic Lauten and Fred Nsengiyumva of the Kula Project—a nonprofit organization working on the ground in Rwanda to bring coffee farmers out of poverty. The conversation offered a rare behind-the-scenes look at the realities of running a washing station, managing farmer relationships, and building a business that is both impactful and sustainable.

More Than Coffee: A Mission to End Poverty

Kula Project’s mission is straightforward: to end poverty in coffee-growing communities. But the path to that goal is anything but simple. As Nic explains, "The reality is that so many farmers are still at the very bottom of the value chain." Despite working in one of the most valuable industries in the world, many Rwandan coffee farmers live on as little as $0.25 to $0.50 per day—well below the World Bank’s $2.15 global poverty line.

To combat this, Kula runs a 12-month fellowship program for smallholder farmers. This program combines practical agricultural training, business development, access to finance, and most importantly—follow-up. “It’s not just group training,” Fred emphasizes. “We also provide one-on-one coaching. That’s where transformation happens.”

The Reality of Metrics and Measuring Impact

While the poverty line provides a useful benchmark, Nic and Fred were quick to point out its limitations. “It's more than just a number,” Nic says. “Poverty is multidimensional—it's about access to education, healthcare, land, and opportunity.”

Kula measures success not just by numbers, but by tangible changes in a family's quality of life. After completing the fellowship, most farmers double or even triple their income and significantly increase their coffee yield per tree.

The Coffee Side: Owning a Washing Station

In 2019, Kula acquired a remote washing station in Nyamasheke, Western Rwanda. But the purchase was anything but conventional—paid for in cash, after a boat ride across Lake Kivu, and trust-building in a skeptical community. “When we arrived, many farmers didn’t trust us,” recalls Fred. “Previous washing stations promised second payments and never delivered.”

By honoring their word—and going above expectations with bonuses—Kula began to rebuild trust. “The first year, we paid the highest second payment in the region,” says Fred. “That changed everything.”

Navigating Rwanda’s Regulated Coffee Economy

Rwanda’s coffee sector is tightly regulated, with government-set cherry prices and previously enforced geographic zoning for washing stations. While these policies aim to protect farmers, they also create challenges in competitiveness and innovation. Nic and Fred explain how these dynamics can both help and hinder long-term sustainability.

“The current system means washing stations often have to pay increasingly high prices just to stay in the game,” Nic says. “That’s great for farmers—until a washing station collapses under the weight of those prices and disappears.”

Beyond Coffee: Entrepreneurship for Resilience

One of Kula’s most compelling innovations is the recognition that coffee alone won’t be enough. With land scarcity and climate risks, diversification is key. The fellowship program encourages farmers to start side businesses—from beekeeping to carpentry to small-scale brewing.

“As much as we want to see coffee yield improvements, we also want farmers to think like entrepreneurs,” says Fred. “We need to build vibrant, resilient local economies.”

Building Transparency with Technology

One of the success factors in Kula’s journey has been transparency—enabled in part by M-Cultivo’s traceability technology. By sending SMS receipts to farmers and digitally tracking transactions, Kula has built lasting credibility.

“Farmers really appreciated those SMS receipts,” says Nic. “It showed them that we were serious and accountable.”

Advice for Nonprofits Considering the Coffee Business

Asked what advice they’d give to nonprofits thinking about investing in washing stations, Fred and Nic were pragmatic: “Figure out your goal. Is it profit, learning, or something else? Know how you’ll handle cash flow and who your market will be before you start.”

And perhaps most importantly: “Be ready to learn. If you don’t enjoy the learning process, don’t do it.”

Want to learn more or buy Kula’s coffee?

Visit KulaProject.org to explore Kula’s work, green coffee and roasted coffee offerings.

Watch Now to the Full Podcast Episode With Nic and Fred