The announcement was made on Thursday, September 11, 2025, by the Minister of Agriculture and Animal Resources, Dr. Mark Cyubahiro Bagabe, during the official inauguration of the Kibeho Tea Factory in Nyaruguru District.

The newly launched factory has an initial capacity of 2,000 tons, with plans to scale up to 7,500 tons. A second factory with the same capacity will be constructed in Munini Sector, Nyaruguru, bringing the combined output to 15,000 tons annually.

Dr. Bagabe said: “This project is expected to generate $45 million annually, with 50% of the revenues going directly to farmers through their produce.”

Project launched in 2016

The tea expansion program, launched in 2016, covers 6,417 hectares, including 720 hectares managed by factories and 5,600 hectares owned by farmers. More than 7,000 farmers are already engaged and will benefit from training both in Rwanda and abroad.

David Knopp, CEO of Wood Foundation Africa (WFA), which supports tea growers in Nyaruguru, said the project will transform livelihoods:

“Tea takes five years to mature, but the real returns will be seen in 10–12 years. This requires long-term collaboration between government, farmers, and partners.”

Felix Mutai, Managing Director of Browns Plantations Rwanda, which manages the Kibeho factory, explained that the plant currently operates at 30% capacity but is expected to reach full capacity within 3–4 years. Farmers already supply tea from 2,500 hectares (3,390 farmers), projected to expand to 6,400 hectares cultivated by over 10,000 farmers by 2034.

Figures from the National Agricultural Export Development Board (NAEB) show that between 2017 and 2024, tea alone generated over Rwf 987 billion from 238,264 tons exported.

According to Rwanda’s five-year agricultural strategy (PST5: 2024–2029), tea is projected to contribute up to Rwf 1.28 trillion, cementing its place as one of Rwanda’s top foreign exchange earners