Rwanda Gitega Hills

At Mostra, we don’t often source coffee from Rwanda, but this lot immediately stood out to our Coffee Buying team as something special. We’re excited to introduce you to this exceptional lot from Gitega Hills and showcase the incredible work being done in Rwanda.

Gitega Hills washing station is located in the southern Rwandan hills, at an elevation of 1300–2200 MASL. Just 12 km from Bwenda in the Cyanika sector, and adjacent to a disused quartz quarry, Gitega Hills covers approximately 6 hectares near the small town of Miko. "Gitega" refers to the surrounding land cell—a smaller administrative area within a sector, region, or province. Established by RTC in 2016, Gitega plays a vital role in the local community, providing employment and supporting local farmers. The station employs 150 people, 90% of whom are women, with 11 permanent staff and the rest working seasonally.

Each year, 1,040 farmers contribute cherries to Gitega’s production, and in 2016, the station processed 400 tons of cherry. The farms supplying Gitega are located between 0.5 and 7 km from the station and are served by 33 different collection points. Most of these farms are small, with an average of just 400 trees per hectare. Gitega also supports farmers by providing organic EM2 compost, made from recycled cherry pulp and animal manure. All 1,040 farmers are either current participants or have completed the Agricultural Training Program (ATP).