Abstract
Coffee farming sector is affected by two main factors; the coffee price at international market goes up and down depending on the current situation. On the other hands the cost of farms’ inputs changes up-down due to inflation and others related factors. These factors have a negative impact on profitability of coffee farming to the extent that some farmers are demotivated. There is therefore a need for an innovative solution to this problem. The coffee-based tourism is regarded as a growth niche tourism market and may come up with solutions to problems the coffee sector is facing. This paper’s main objectives are to assess the potential contribution of Coffee based tourism to the coffee sector, and to identify factors that may promote or hinder the coffee-based tourism development in Nyamasheke District. The study followed a qualitative research methodology. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews with ten Coffee Washing Stations managers, four farmers representing coffee farmers organizations and the District’s Vice Mayor of economic affairs. Respondents were selected purposively because are not only involved in the coffee farming business but are also interested in the development of the coffee sector. The study found that Coffee Based Tourism may contribute to the improvement of coffee production as it may motivate coffee farmers to improve their farming activities, improve the coffee farmers’ livelihood, and improve the coffee sector in Rwanda. The SWOT analysis presents factors that may promote or hinder the coffee-based tourism in that district. Strength and opportunities are the promoting factors, while weakness and treats depict the hindering factors. In addition, this paper concludes by arguing that the success of this new venture would depend heavily on the central government and the local government’s will through policy development and other supports needed to develop this business venture.
Highlights
The study found that Coffee Based Tourism may contribute to the improvement of coffee production as it may motivate coffee farmers to improve their farming activities, improve the coffee farmers’ livelihood, and improve the coffee sector in Rwanda
Coffee based tourism is a branch of agri-tourism which is based on coffee sector, and covers all value chain
If you try to compare the cost of coffee production and benefits the farmers get in this district, famers are not getting their return on investment made in their activities. Both farmers who participated to this study indicated that coffee farming is really not profitable
Summary
The agricultural context has gone through several structural changes in the last decades, including the development of different enterprises using farm resources (Nickerson et al, 2001). Diversifying a farm to include recreation and leisure activities into agritourism is increasingly being adopted in the United States and is suggested to bring a myriad of economic and intrinsic benefits to farmers, visitors and communities. Agritourism promises the benefits of keeping family farms in business and preserving American agricultural heritage, maximizing the productivity of farmland resources through their recreational use, and even improving the economic situation of local communities (Veeck et al, 2006). Agro-tourism is defined as a combination of natural settings and products of agricultural operations combined within a tourism experience. It is developing into a large part of the tourism industry. The agritourism provides additional income source and employment opportunity to the traditional farmers and rural peoples (Thapa, 2013). Agritourism is a direct marketing activity which provides additional opportunities to farmers to reduce risks involved in farming via diversification in a competing and urbanizing economic environment (Govea & Lin, 2015)
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