Kinazi Living Income: Premium Pay the Sustainable Way
Reducing the Living Income Gap for Rwandan Coffee Farmers
Smallholder coffee farmers in Kinazi, Rwanda, face declining yields, unstable pricing, and financial insecurity. The “Kinazi Living Income” project, led by AidEnvironment, Wakuli, and BAHO Coffee, aims to reduce the income gap faced by coffee-producing households by testing pathways that combine stable premium pricing with regenerative agriculture. The goal is not to promise a full living income, but to meaningfully improve income stability and sustainability through joint action. The project builds on strong sourcing partnerships and shared learning to offer a scalable model for responsible coffee sourcing.
Kinazi’s coffee farmers depend on coffee for their main income but face severe obstacles including low productivity, market price volatility, and rising production costs. The repeal of Rwanda’s zoning policy adds pressure to retain loyal farmer supply.
This project combines Wakuli’s stable, above-market pricing strategy with BAHO’s local presence and AidEnvironment’s expertise in social risk analysis and sustainable landscape management. In Phase A, the partners are jointly conducting an in-depth local assessment, including pricing, gender, child labour, and environmental risks. The resulting action plan will aim to narrow the sustainable living income gap, by linking regenerative practices (e.g. composting, bio-inputs, soil management) to pricing strategies. The focus is on practical, context-appropriate improvements that support farmers’ financial and ecological resilience.
