Dorman company has donated sewing machines to 19 female coffee farmers based in Rushyarara Cell of Karambi Sector in Nyamasheke District in order to empower them financially, hence stimulates their agricultural business.
Grouped in Abishyize Hamwe, these women told BWIZA that they work together with their husbands to grow coffee and supply to Kanzu Factory, owned by Dorman Company.
Nyiranzabandora CĂ©salie, is one of the group members, She said” Every one of us have got their own sewing machines. They gave us another one sewing machine to perform particular task. These tools given will help us to generate other revenues apart from what we have been getting from coffee growing. The expenses on coffee growing soared, so we were in need of something else that can help us earn money.”
“We used to buy a load of grasses for coffee trees protection for a small amount of money but now it cost 1500Rwf. For me, I generally need about 40 loads which is a lot of money to get besides other family expenses.” Nyiranzabandora added
She says the new project will help them to get money for coffee growing investment, school fees, insurance among other things.
” This is encouragement for us to take care of coffee. It will improve the coffee quality that we will be supplying in the future. This is true friendship.” Namugize DĂ©lina says
However, they are worried about how they will learn how to use sewing machines since some of them had no idea how to operate them. They are also in need of office, sweater sewing machine and ironing tools, security and tax removal for the new sewing machines.
Ngabonziza Jean Louis, official from Dorman company, says the company will stay in touch with the female coffee farmers to provide solutions to their problems.
“We have been supporting projects of our suppliers in order to improve the livelihoods. These activities include building schools, donating cows, roads mending, etc. Our intention is to create other initiatives apart from coffee dealings. NAEB requests us to be engaged in improving lives of our partners.” Ngabonziza says
“We want them to preserve what we give them. We wish to see changes in their lives.” He adds
Nyamasheke female coffee farmers are in four groups. The idea to support farmers’ projects was generated in 2019.
The beneficiaries of these 28 projects are coffee growing farmers that work with seven Dorman company factories branches in Nyamasheke with four, Rusizi, Kamonyi and Gatsibo.
The Executive Secretary of Karambi Sector, Emmanuel Uwizeyimana , admitted that the local authority will provide security to those sewing machines and work closely with the female coffee growing farmers to ensure their purpose is achieved.
