In Rwanda’s northern highlands, a quiet transformation is reshaping how coffee is grown. On an 11-hectare slope in Rushashi, the Abakundakawa cooperative began an agroforestry pilot in 2019. What started as a response to declining yields and soil erosion has become a clear example of how regenerative design can change a landscape, and a livelihood.
The project was guided by a simple idea: everything begins with the soil. Without healthy ground, coffee quality suffers, incomes fall and communities are left vulnerable. To restore balance, the cooperative introduced more than 10,000 trees, including species like Calliandra, Polyscias, avocado, papaya, and passionfruit. These were paired with cover crops such as Mucuna puriens, creating a layered system where each element supports the others. Coffee was no longer grown in isolation but as part of a broader, living ecology.
The project was guided by a simple idea: everything begins with the soil. Without healthy ground, coffee quality suffers, incomes fall and communities are left vulnerable. To restore balance, the cooperative introduced more than 10,000 trees, including species like Calliandra, Polyscias, avocado, papaya, and passionfruit. These were paired with cover crops such as Mucuna puriens, creating a layered system where each element supports the others. Coffee was no longer grown in isolation but as part of a broader, living ecology.
By 2022, the canopy had started to close. Tree roots anchored the soil, reducing erosion. Fruit trees added nutritional and economic value. Biodiversity increased and with it, resilience.
The farm now serves as a demonstration site for more than 150 farmers across ten field schools. Rather than prescribing a fixed model, the cooperative encourages adaptation. Farmers are invited to observe, learn, and adjust the approach to their own context. The focus is on knowledge transfer through practice, not theory.
Future plans include planting native Alnus trees, expanding seed collection efforts, and refining direct-seeding techniques to reduce costs and increase impact. The vision is long-term: to create a replicable, locally adapted model for regenerative farming that can continue to evolve.
The farm now serves as a demonstration site for more than 150 farmers across ten field schools. Rather than prescribing a fixed model, the cooperative encourages adaptation. Farmers are invited to observe, learn, and adjust the approach to their own context. The focus is on knowledge transfer through practice, not theory.
Future plans include planting native Alnus trees, expanding seed collection efforts, and refining direct-seeding techniques to reduce costs and increase impact. The vision is long-term: to create a replicable, locally adapted model for regenerative farming that can continue to evolve.
Behind every compelling project is a set of decisions that shape outcomes. This business lens breaks down the operational side of the story, highlighting how strategy and execution align to create lasting value. It’s where impact meets infrastructure and where good ideas become working models.
Approach
Approach
Years of intensive farming and erratic weather patterns had eroded the topsoil, reducing coffee yields and weakening the economic foundation of local farming communities. The challenge wasn’t just environmental, but economic too, declining productivity meant less income and reduced food security for families who rely on the land.
The cooperative introduced a structured agroforestry system, intercropping coffee with over 10,000 trees including fruit species (papaya, avocado, passionfruit) and nitrogen-fixers (Calliandra, Polyscias). The system was co-developed by local leadership and external agronomists, ensuring it was both ecologically sound and grounded in local realities.
Rather than treating coffee as a monoculture, the farm became a diversified, resilient ecosystem.
The cooperative introduced a structured agroforestry system, intercropping coffee with over 10,000 trees including fruit species (papaya, avocado, passionfruit) and nitrogen-fixers (Calliandra, Polyscias). The system was co-developed by local leadership and external agronomists, ensuring it was both ecologically sound and grounded in local realities.
Rather than treating coffee as a monoculture, the farm became a diversified, resilient ecosystem.
Budget
Budget
The project was executed with a modest investment of €8,652. This covered essential infrastructure, tools for land preparation, wages for farm labor, seedlings for all plant species and expert agronomy guidance. The budget’s clarity and transparency make it easier to replicate or scale in other regions, reinforcing its utility as a model.
Value
Value
The shift to agroforestry brought multiple layers of value. Soil quality improved, reducing the need for external inputs. Shade and biodiversity supported healthier coffee plants and better yields. Fruit trees added food security and income diversification. Importantly, these benefits came without compromising the core function of the land: coffee production remained intact and potentially improved over time.
Scalability
Scalability
Instead of imposing a one-size-fits-all template, the cooperative chose to develop a single, functional demonstration plot. This created a low-risk, high-visibility model for others to observe in real conditions. Through ten farmer field schools, over 150 farmers now visit and learn from the site, seeing firsthand how regenerative methods perform season after season.
As the project advances beyond its pilot phase, the lessons emerging from Rushashi extend far beyond the narrow contours of an 11-hectare hillside. The experience demonstrates how thoughtful integration of diverse species and local know-how can breathe new life into tired soil and fragile communities.
In this quiet evolution of farming, each tree planted and every field rejuvenated serves as a testament to the power of measured innovation.
This journey of regeneration is not merely about improved yields or more vibrant landscapes, it is about restoring balance to the land and empowering farmers to craft a more sustainable future. As we look ahead, the resilience built at these roots offers both hope and a roadmap for agricultural renewal around the world.
Originally published by This Side Up, rewritten