Rwanda Agriculture 2016

Rwanda Winning the war against ‘hidden hunger’

Promoting `Made in Rwanda’

Transforming livelihoods

Agriculture

S U pp L eme N t

SEPTEMBER

2016

SPECIAL REPORT

President Paul Kagame with MINAGRI Min. Geraldine Mukeshimana in Nyanza //Photo Credit-HarvestPlus

Rwanda is transforming lives through agriculture Seven in ten Rwandans are directly involved in Agriculture, a sector that meets 90% of the national food needs, contributes 33% of Gross National Product (GDP), and generates more than 70% of the country’s export revenues.

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ts importance notwithstanding, Rwanda has traditionally been hindered from benefiting maximally from agriculture because of the country’s high population density (and resulting land shortage), hilly terrain, susceptibility to pests and diseases, and over-reliance on weather among other factors.

Now, however, the government is taking determined action to remove the bottlenecks and ensure maximum benefits. The government has launched concerted efforts with development partners and the private sector which has seen the country pioneer innovative homegrown approaches and le-

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verage technology to overcome challenges and increase productivity and livelihoods for rural farmers and led to attaining national food security.

Rwanda has invested in prudential land husbandry, counter degradation, crop intensification to make good use of the most of the limited land resource. It is engaged in research in new, nutrition-rich, drought and disease resistant crop varieties and livestock breeds, and is investing in mechanisation and irrigation technologies to increase farm output.

Effort has been put into reducing post-harvest losses, provision of adequate extension

services, as well as facilitating farmer access to improved inputs.

Crop intensification Currently, Rwanda’s Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources (MINAGRI) has a number of ongoing and planned initiatives to help improve farmers’ incomes and livelihoods. These initiatives are grouped into Crop and Livestock Intensification programs.

Crop intensification initiatives include capacity building for the farmers, providing high-yield and drought-resistant seed, encouraging irrigation, and promoting mechanisation.

Most prominent among these is Twigire-

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Modern irrigation Equipment at the National Agriculture Expo //Photo Credit-HarvestPlus

Post-harvest storage system //Photo

Credit-HarvestPlus Muhinzi, a homegrown extension model whose guiding principle is that farmers learn better from each other than from technocrats.

It combines the successes of two internationally-acclaimed programs in the sector: the Farmer Promoter Program and the Farmer Field Schools approach. The aim is to reach as many farmers as possible within the shortest time possible, and equip them with improved farming practice so as to boost production.

“It is built on Umudugudu (village) level and involves 15 people whose plots neighbor each other,” explains the Minister for MINAGRI, Hon. Gerardine Mukeshimana.

In addition, MINAGRI is helping farmers tackle soil acidity through a Liming programme that started with a few districts this past season and will eventually cover the entire country. Some parts of Rwanda have acidic soils that are hostile

to majority of crops.

“We have started with Karongi, Nyaruguru, Nyamagabe and Nyamasheke which are the worst affected, and we shall eventually roll it out to the rest of the country,” the Minister says.

The ministry also facilitates distribution of seed and fertilisers through the Agrodealers, a network of business people and entrepreneurialminded members of farmers’ cooperatives.

In addition, the ministry in 2015 launched the small-scale irrigation project. As a result, irrigation now stands at 38,000 ha total of land, and 4000ha more are added every year. However, this still falls short of the desired goals since irrigation is very expensive.

Government has subsidised irrigation-related products so that even farmers with small pieces of land can have access to irrigation facilities.

“Very small farmers can come together to justify getting the small scale irrigation equipment,” explains Minister Mukeshimana.

carrots //Photo Credit-HarvestPlus

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Livestock intensification

Min. Mukeshimana hands over a hybrid cow to a Girinka beneficiary //Photo Credit-HarvestPlus

Another priority area for the Ministry of Agriculture and animal resources is livestock intensification.

The ministry intends to build on successes in the area of milk production. This success was achieved through intensive training programs that were offered to farmers to sensitise them on how to handle milk and how to sell it. Milk collection centres were also set up all over the country where an assured market for milk was provided.

Farmer with cows //Photo Credit-HarvestPlus

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INAGRI further coordinated with Inyange Industries, a local agro-processor, in establishing milk zones that enabled them to sell more milk by eliminating the expeniv

Agropy products //Photo Credit-HarvestPlus

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sive packaging costs. “Our next target is beef processing which we want to bring to the same level as the milk production,� says the minister.

To that end, the GoR early 2015 introduced a flagship project to increase quality meat production for local and export markets. This project, co-managed by the Ministry of Defence together with the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources, will sit on 600ha in Gako.

Once complete, it will be a centre for production and processing of beef, lamb, goat, poultry and pork among other meats.

In line with plans to increase private sector participation in the agriculture sector, government recently leased its Rubirizi National Hatchery to Flow Equity, an American firm, a move that is aimed at increasing productivity.

Winning the war against ‘hidden hunger’

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How Rwanda is using bio-fortified foods to solve malnutrition

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Hidden hunger is a lack of vitamins and minerals. Hidden hunger occurs when the quality of food people eat does not meet their nutrient requirements, so the food is deficient in micronutrients such as the vitamins and minerals that they need for their growth and development.

“The ‘hidden hunger’ due to micronutrient deficiency does not produce hunger as we know it. You might not feel it in the belly, but it strikes at the core of your health and vitality. It remains widespread, posing devastating threats to health, education, economic growth and to human dignity in developing countries.” Kul C. Gautam, former Deputy Executive Director of UNICEF

Climbing beans //Photo Credit-

HarvestPlus vi

Iron Beans //Photo Credit-HarvestPlus

Beans in Rwandan market //Photo

Credit-HarvestPlus

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hereas the lack of vitamins and minerals such as vitamin A, iodine and iron, is the main cause of “hidden hunger” and malnutrition in the world today, Rwanda has embarked on several approaches to mitigate this danger. Through the ministry of agriculture, an approach to scale up bio-fortified foods was adopted to reduce the common forms of micronutrient deficiency mainly in children and pregnant women.

Augustin Musoni, the head of the bean program at Rwanda Agricultural Board explains that the modern varieties of beans introduced to farmers are more nutrient-rich compared to the indigenous types.

“Because of the high content

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Packaged climbing beans. //Photo

Credit-HarvestPlus

of proteins and iron these beans are reducing the occurrence of anemia, especially in groups that are considered vulnerable, like children and pregnant women” says, Musoni.

The iron-rich beans are being promoted by the Rwanda Agriculture Board (RAB), in collaboration with international partners.

Why iron deficiency?

According to Joseph Mulambu, the Harvet Plus Country Manager and International Centre for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT) coordinator for Rwanda, two of the partner organisations on this project, “Iron is an essential mineral that has many important functions and it is needed for mental and physical health, and maintains a healthy immune system by increasing resistance to diseases.”

The World Health Organisation attributes 50% of anemia cases to iron deficiency, which also increases the risk to women during childbirth..

The 2014-2015 Rwanda demographic and Health survey shows that 37 percent of children suffered from some degree of anemia: 21 percent were classified as mildly anemic, 15 percent were moderately anemic, and less than 1 percent was severely anemic.

Iron-rich beans to the rescue

Adoption of the iron-rich bean varieties has proven to be effective in repairing the deficiency in Rwanda, thus reducing the incidence of anemia among the consumers of these foods.

Mulambu explains that since bio-fortified beans have a relatively higher iron content

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(provide 14% higher daily iron needs) than non-biofortified ones, Rwanda is rolling out these varieties to curb malnutrition.

A recent study published in The Journal of Nutrition found that daily consumption of meals with the iron-rich beans helped prevent and reverse iron deficiency in young Rwandan women in just fourand-a-half months.

“Therefore, consumption by local families is a key intervention strategy in fighting malnutrition,” says Mulambu.

Rolling out pest and disease-resistant beans Ten bio-fortified bean varieties were conventionally bred by RAB with increased iron content. To encourage uptake, agricultural researchers in Rwanda have bred the new bean varieties to suit them to the local environment and solve the problems farmers commonly face.

For instance, of these varieties, eight are the climbing type (higher yield per unit farm area) and are more tolerant to pests, diseases, and field water stress conditions.

Unlike the bush variety of beans, climbing beans wrap around stakes and produce more pods as they grow upwards. As a result, they yield twice as much on the same area of land than the bush beans. This is especially critical for some small-scale farmers with limited access to farmland.

However, soon after they were introduced, it was discovered that the climbing bean varieties did better in high altitudes and not so well in low lands, thus limiting their uptake to only the hilly parts of the country. Fortunately, Science soon came to the rescue.

According to Dr Louis Butare, Director General of the Rwanda Agricultural Board (RAB), RAB worked

Achievements

Vitamin A-rich bakery products from OFSP //Photo

Credit-HarvestPlus

with researchers to develop alternatives that can flourish in low lands. This, he says, is emblematic of Rwanda’s application of science research to solve society’s challenges.

“There is great input in terms of research,” he reveals.

Vitamin-rich potatoes A similar undertaking is going on in Rwanda under the SUSTAIN project that seeks to eliminate VitaminA deficiency in the country by promoting uptake of the biofortified Orange-Fleshed Sweet Potato variety. SUSTAIN is run by the International Centre for Potato (CIP) in conjunction with RAB and other local partners.

Launched in March 2015, the project, which consists of distributing improved planting materials for the OFSP, aims at reaching more than 60,000 households directly and 250,000 households indirectly.

In the past year alone, over 4 million OFSP cuttings have been distributed to 20,000 eligible households in the 8 participating districts. During the same period, the project’s 21 decentralised vine multipliers (DVMs) have produced and sold 1.3 million cuttings valued at about 6.7m Rwf. Project beneficiaries marketed 32,440 Kg of OFSP roots valued at over 5m Rwf. Furthermore, from July 2014 to June 2015, Urwibutso Enterprises, a local agro-processor, produced OFSP-based bakery products worth over 273m Rwf and the farmer cooperatives sold products worth 1.1m Rwf. A road side market of OFSP roots and products was set up in partnership with Rulindo district, while another partnership with an online fruits and vegetable marketing firm will ease access of roots to households in the capital Kigali.

Happy children with OFSP //Photo

Credit-HarvestPlus

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Promoting `Made in Rwanda’ Akabanga is just one of many Rwandan products that are making waves on the world stage as a result of a deliberate strategy by the government to promote “Made in Rwanda” products.

Sina Gerard honoured by President Kagame. //Courtesy Photo

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t the forefront of these efforts is the country’s agro-processing sector which is seeing rapid growth.

The government of Rwanda is implementing a comprehensive strategy to strengthen agro-industrial capabilities countrywide and provide an enabling environment for value addition, in

Inyange is anotherleading Rwandan agrobrand. //Courtesy Photo

addition to skills development, emergency supplies of agro-equipment, and the rehabilitation of food industries. Investors in the agro-processing sector stand to benefit from initiatives like the Export Growth Facility (EGF) between Ministry of Trade and Industry (MINICOM) and the Development Bank of Rwanda (BRD) that seeks to address the finance challenges they face.

Other ventures aimed at adding value include the Post-Harvest and Agribusiness Support Project (PASP), which is run through the Ministry of Agriculture (MINAGRI).

Due in part to this strategy, the target value of agricultural exports is expected to grow from US$ 259 million in 2015 to US$ 300 Million in 2016/17FY, representing a 15.9% growth.

More products on display at Made in Rwanda expo. //Courtesy Photo

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Taking Akabanga global

Today, products like Akabanga, because of their added value are conquering international markets.

According to the Rwanda Development Board, Enterprise Urwibutso-which also produces juices, biscuits, ketchup and so

on in addition to Akabanga- obtained its global trademark registrationin 2015.

The achievement means that the manufacturer now has the option of exporting single products or using the Madrid System that uses the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) Madrid Agree-

ment as a one-stop solution for registering and managing marks worldwide. In this System, an applicant files one application, in one language, and pays one set of fees to protect the trademark in the territories of 96 members of Madrid Union.

Akabanga, Rwanda’s signature chili oil Little bottles, big impact

Akabanga, literally translates as “little secret” in the Kinyarwanda language of Rwanda. But the orange-colored chili pepper oil by marketed under that name is no little secret. Manufactured by Enterprise Urwibutso, a leading Rwandan agro-processing firm and packaged in small eye drop-like bottles, it has become a hit flavor and spice in East Africa and beyond.

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ost of the exports are handled by Dieudonne Twahirwa, a wholesaler and exporter in Kigali. He exports, through a middle company called Nature Fresh Food, about one metric tonne of Akabanga every week.

Twahirwa, who has been trading in the product for more than three years, says demand for Akabanga far outstrips the supply and hopes that local production can increase in order to keep up.

“My major market is the United Kingdom,” he says, “and Akabanga is in high demand. I think they would need to triple the current production in order to satisfy the available market.”

Given the huge volumes he deals in, the exporter commends the stable shelf life of the product.

“Unlike most products, this chili oil is very stable and well preserved to withstand most destructive weather conditions. The quality does not compare with the raw chili which is highly perishable,” he explains.

Although the product quality is at par with similar ones at international level, one area Twahirwa would like to see improvement is the packaging.

“It can be made more attractive,” he says.

Popular at home For the Rwanda government which is intent on promoting local consumption of home-made products, even more important than its reputation abroad is Akabanga’s popularity at home. The chili oil is a certified staple with locals as well as professionals in the hotel service sector who are all praises for it.

Florent Habimana, an employee at a hotel in Kigali explains that this spice enhances flavour and for the same reason cannot miss out when preparing special meat dishes.

“Some customers cannot even start eating food before confirming that this spicy chili has been put on the table. If there is one item that people have gotten used to, it is this one,” explains Habimana.

Akabanga also has a wide range of applications in culinary dishes, Habimana elaborates, adding that it provides an option for individuals who have phobia for very salty dishes.

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E-Soko: ICT in agriculture Given the ever more prominent role being played by Information Communication Technologies (ICT) in today’s world, the Rwanda government is deliberately exploring the diverse uses of ICT as an enabler for the other core sectors of the economy.

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unique outgrowth of this policy has been the collaboration of institutions such as Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources (MINAGRI) with ICT innovation and incubation projects like the K-Lab to develop technological solutions for problems facing farmers. Online platforms like E-Soko are popular x

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among farmers in both villages and towns. E-Soko links farmers to markets and offers automatic market price information. Market information is disseminated through the use of messages and the Internet. The information includes the type of crop and location. Agricultural officers are used to coordinate most dealings.

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As part of the eRwanda project, E-Soko was implemented by the Rwanda Information Technology Authority (RITA) and was introduced with the aim of empowering farmers to make informed market price decisions.

Serving 62 markets and 78 agriculture commodities According to Wilson Musonera the coordinator of E-Soko at MINAGRI, the project now covers 62 markets with plans on-going to include more markets across the country.

“That is where we are now but there many plans to expand the market. This information helps Rwandans and people outside the country can also access it,” says Musonera.

He adds that the app is designed for wide applicability, such that all phones are capable of using this agricultural platform.

“The information on E-Soko, as well as current market prices for agricultural commodities, can be accessed easily by both smart and feature phones,” he says.

At least 78 agriculture commodities are reviewed under this system and according to the Rwanda Development Board; there are plans to further update it.

The information provided on this platform helps organisations such as the UN World Food Program, the Regional Agriculture Trade Network, and East Africa Grain Council to plan well before acquiring food stuffs.

Empowering farmers

The information on E-Soko, as well as current market prices for agricultural commodities, can be accessed easily by both smart and feature phones.

E-Soko Serves

62 78

markets &

agriculture commodities

For farmers, one immediately apparent benefit of using E-Soko is the autonomy it affords them by drastically reducing their dependence on middlemen. Initially, local farmers who harvest produce had to wait for middlemen and ‘farm brokers’ for information regarding market prices.

With the launch of this platform, farmers literally have the power of choice on who to sell to in their hands since they have easy access to all the relevant information, especially regarding the fluctuation of prices. Before utilising E-Soko local farmers are trained through special programs on how to use the application as well as access information using devices such as mobile phones or computers.

“Trainings are conducted on how to use the platform. If you are a farmer in the country side, there is no need for you to traverse towns or consulting people about market prices for the produce,” Musonera elaborates.

Farmers also have the leverage of gauging when it is profitable to sell their produce, an arrangement that allows proper planning.

Information on other products ranging

from seeds; fertilisers and other agrobased foods can also be acquired online.

In fact the Rwanda ICT sector profile released last year shows that 11330 SMS transactions were made in 2014 under this system.

Other ICT initiatives Although E-Soko stands out as a market intelligence kit several applications continue to be designed in order for farmers to remain part of the bigger vision for cashless transactions.

According to agriculture minister Geraldine Mukeshimana, the ministry is finalising a national ICT strategy for Rwandan Agriculture (ICT4RAg) to coordinate financial, human, and institutional resources to address challenges in the agriculture sector.

It will also feature an online diploma in agro-technology where an ICT-based agricultural education system in English and Kinyarwanda will improve productivity, income and socioeconomic status by disseminating advice to farmers.

The ministry actively harnesses social networks like WhatsApp to provide real-time information to farmers across the country.

For instance, a WhatsApp group called ‘Agricultural Forum’ that includes top officials from MINAGRI, all the Mayors, vice Mayors and Executive Secretaries from all districts in the country helps the ministry keep updated on matters affecting farmers in real-time and ensures they get a response immediately.

A toll-free number is also maintained on the website where farmers call at anytime and get help, as well as the M-Farm system that makes vouchers to the farmer and is operated by the Agrodealers.

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Turnaround of Rwanda’s Pyrethrum sector

Rwanda’s pyrethrum sector employs over 37000 farmers, brings in foreign revenues worth USD 15 million each year and has contributed to restoring and conserving the soils in areas where it is grown. The export revenues from pyrethrum have increased by over 380% in the span of just two years. These achievements reflect one of the most dramatic turnarounds in Rwanda’s agriculture and export trade sectors.

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he turnaround started in 2008, when the army-owned Horizon Group entered the sector. Up to until this point, the sector had all but been destroyed in the 1994 genocide. The Horizon Group set about crafting a turnaround strategy and successfully implementing it.

Horizon Group formed a subsidiary called Horizon Sopyrwa Ltd, which became the driving force behind the pyrethrum sector transformation.

Horizon Sopyrwa took over the country’s then sole pyrethrum producer (Sopyrwa) in 2008. At the time, the sector was still ailing, with only 7000 pyrethrum farmers who produced 200 tonnes of the crop each year. The sector was beleaguered by a number of challenges including: competition for land from commercial potato farmers, decreased plant yields, inconsistent market, and absence of research in the field.

Seven short years later, Horizon Sopyrwa has managed to transform it into one of the most vibrant industries in the country utilizing a strategy that revolves around providing top quality services to farmers in order to improve the quantity and quality of their yield, and assuring them of market for their product at a good price.

Putting farmers first Horizon Sopyrwa is directly involved with farmers, training them on good agricultural practices, providing high quality seedlings, and helping them form cooperatives that ensure a better price for them by dealing with xii

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Pyrethrum flowers

At the time, the sector was still ailing, with only

7000

pyrethrum farmers who produced

200

tonnes of the crop each year

Horizon directly, thus eliminating the middleman.

The company works closely with MINAGRI, especially through the National Agriculture Export Board (NAEB), to provide free planting materials and fertilisers to farmers.

The ministry has also recently appointed pyrethrum specialists based in Musanze to help Horizon Sopyrwa with monitoring and evaluation of the sector.

All these interventions mean farmers get good return on their investment (with an input of 800,000

Rwf a farmer can earn over 2 million Rwf), enabling them to improve their livelihoods and those of their families.

Horizon Sopyrwa’s Musanze factory currently has the capacity to produce 3,000 tons of dry flowers per year, with a state-of-the-art refinery that produces the world’s best quality pyrethrum pale extract, which is then supplied to AgroPy Ltd, the country’s own organic pesticides manufacturer. The surplus is then sold to markets in Africa, USA, Europe and Asia.

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Agropy Ltd: Eco-friendly and effective pesticides made in Rwanda

Achievements According to Cadeau Grace Mukundiyabo, a service manager at AgroPy, distribution of products is done in outlets all over the country. Recently, AgroPy started exporting its products to the United States of America, Uganda, Madagascar, and Ghana among others.

Apart from supplying these materials, the company has a fumigation unit that inspects and guides farmers on how to apply most pesticides and insecticides.

“In addition to training farmers, our fumigation unit on the ground gets firsthand knowledge on the diseases affecting crops and animals and gives feedback on what products are needed to combat them,” says Mukundiyabo. Finally, since pyrethrum is eco-friendly and Agropy products are Certified Organic; this adds value to the farmers’ crops and ensures they fetch a better price on the export market.

A member of Agropy Fumigation Unit

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espite producing some of the world’s best quality pyrethrum pale, Rwanda for years did not manufacture insect control products. Thus, the country was exporting high quality pale and importing low quality insecticides which have a negative toll on both the farmers and the environment.

It is the price that developing economies pay for not adding value to their produce.

Determined to buck this trend, Horizon Group partnered with Agropharm Ltd, a UK firm, to set up a local pesticides manufacturer called AgroPy Ltd in Musanze, North-

ern Rwanda.

Today, Agropy Ltd, supplies both liquid and powder-form pesticides for plants and animals. Starting with a portfolio of three products, the firm has diversified its product range over the years to meet the growing demand. At least eight products have now found market in East Africa while others are transported for sale beyond the continent.

Emmy Nyirigira, General Manager at Agropy, explains that pyrethrum-based pesticides are highly prized for being effective yet eco-friendly.

“The pesticides are organic and are considered eco-friendly, and pose no harm to the crops, animals or farmer. They are also effective in grain storage and provide protection for 12 months,” he says.

Product range AgroPy products that utilise this powerful non-persistent pesticide include water emulsified concentrates Pyrethrum 5EW & PyreEmmy Nyirigira, General Manager Agropy Ltd

AgroPy Kigali Office

Agropy Product thrum EWC, Inkuyo Tick Grease and Agrothrin Dust.

The company also produces insecticides to kill and disrupt breeding ground for mosquitoes, as well as an insect repellant known as Bireti that is non-irritating and can be used for children as young as one year old.

Natural home sprays known as air fresheners are also used to improve the scent in a living environment.

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Girinka: Decade of success in Rwanda’s diary sector Girinka literally translates as ‘own a cow’ in the Kinyarwanda language of Rwanda. It describes a centuries old cultural practice in Rwanda where a cow was given by one person to another as a sign of respect, gratitude, or as dowry.

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his ancient custom is being put to modern use in yet another example of how Rwanda has consistently placed a premium on developing homegrown solutions to local problems.

About 10 years ago, when faced with the double dilemma of poverty and worryingly high child malnutrition levels, the government had to dig deep into the long history of Rwanda’s culture to find a fitting resolution to this puzzle. The result was “Girinka” programme.

The program aims to improve on the on livelihoods of poor households by providing them with a dairy cow to boost their nutrition needs through milk, help them improve soil fertility by utilising the cow’s dung and urine as manure, thereby increasing agricultural output; and fetching them better incomes by through sale of surplus dairy products.

The sharing of cows between families also contributes to unity and reconciliation among Rwandans.

To date more than 248,566 cows have been

distributed to poor households in Rwanda since the inception of the program in 2006.

According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources (MINAGRI), the target is to reach 350,000 cow donations by 2017.

Selection of beneficiaries Girinka coordinator Dr. Pascal Nyabinwa explains that selection of beneficiaries for the program follows specific criteria.

“Before consideration, we look at the poverty levels, and land limitations to support food cultivation among other things,” says Dr Nyabinwa.

After assessing an individual’s fitness to receive the animal, the beneficiary is obliged to unite with others in the community to construct a communal cowshed.

Beneficiaries are then offered crossbreeds with better capacity of milk and beef production.

They also receive training from MINAGRI and district officials to help them make the best of the programme.

“These include trainings in management practices, construction of structures, pest and disease control practices as well as use of the animal products to boost nutrition at household level,” Dr. Nyabinwa explains.

The ‘pass on’ system A crucial aspect of the programme, which also emphasizes its decentralized nature, is the ‘pass on’ system whereby a beneficiary of a free cow passes on the first female offspring to another needy family, often a neighbour’s.

Impacting farmers A 2014 study on the impact of homegrown solutions by the Rwanda Governance Board (RGB) reveals that Girinka has had significant impact on the lives of beneficiary families, leading to improvement in-among otherstheir basic incomes, access to health, education. xiv

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Latest statistics from MINAGRI place “farm gate” value of milk at approximately

Rwf 79.7 bn

(US$129.70 million).

The dairy subsector contributes

15% to agricultural gross domestic product (AGDP) and

Rwandapedia Calf offered to a teacher in Girinka Mwalimu 2014

06% to gross domestic product (GDP).

Child drinking milk Before joining the Girinka programme, 72.5% of the participating households lived under “very poor” conditions, compared to just 1.9% in 2014.

In the area of nutrition, the report states:“Prior to receiving a cow, 31.4% of households could not have food on their plate everyday but rather from time to time.

This situation reduced to only 3.1% after joining Girinka program.”

Participants also benefit from manure.

Over 90% of beneficiaries say they use the manure from the cows in their gardens, boosting fertility and yields as a result. Indeed, at least 92.7% of beneficiaries say their agricultural productivity has increased after they joined the program. They also share surplus manure with neighbours, either for free or at a small cost.

The program also has a positive impact on the environment. A number of beneficiaries use biogas, generated from the animal waste for lighting and cooking, thus reducing on deforestation for firewood purposes and freeing up time for women to engage in income-generating activities.

Improved productivity on a national scale Beyond the improving the lives of individual beneficiaries, Girinka has contributed significantly to the development of Rwanda’s dairy sector.

National milk production has increased from 151.5 million litres in 2006 to 710,000 tons in 2015 as a result of various programs to boost the sector, among them Girinka.

Latest statistics from MINAGRI place “farm gate” value of milk at approximately Rwf 79.7 billion (US$129.70 million). The dairy

subsector contributes 15 percent to agricultural gross domestic product (AGDP) and 6 percent to gross domestic product (GDP).

To tap into the surplus milk produced, the over 100 “Milk Collection Centres” have been established around the country, while the “One Cup of Milk per Child” Program aimed at combating malnutrition among school-going children is operating in 112 schools; reaching 85000 children in 14 districts across the country.

Overall, nutrition of children under five years improved as a result of the boosted dietary intake. Stunting fell from 43 per cent in 2012 to 36.7 percent in 2015, according to the triennial Comprehensive Food Security and Vulnerability Analysis (CFSVA) 2015 report.

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National Agricultural Export Board Taking Rwanda’s exports to international markets

Rwanda has developed its traditional cash crops sector by improving on quality control from field to factory and investing in value addition so as to bring them to high international standards. Rwanda’s chief agriculture exports are tea, coffee, pyrethrum, horticulture and animal products. Between 2005 and 2010, these products contributed on average 48.1 per cent of Rwanda’s total earnings from exports.

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pearheading GoR’s efforts in this regard is the National Agricultural Export Board, a government-aided body operating under the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources (MINAGRI). Its mandate is to improve the balance of payment of Rwanda’s economy through increased agricultural exports. The organization is a platform for farmers to establish links with international buyers. Export crops like tea, coffee, and horticulture have been the main beneficiaries. xvi

Rwanda Tea harvest

Tea

In 2010, tea became Rwanda’s main export generating $55 million up from US$48.2 million in 2009.

To develop the tea subsector, government focuses on expanding the areas under cultivation and improving the quality of produce, according to Pie Ntwari, the Communications Manager at NAEB. Today tea is cultivated on over 24000 ha and generates about $ 60 million.

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Coffee It is no surprise that Rwanda’s coffee is among those varieties listed on Starbucks. Homegrown solutions have seen this cash crop rise to international levels.

The Coffee subsector generated substantial foreign exchange that grew from $39 million in 2005 to $55 million in 2013 with the highest value of $74 million was achieved in 2011.

In Rwanda, coffee farmers are usually grouped in cooperatives.

These help them apply good farming practices to improve coffee

quality through 245 coffee wash stations in the country.

To offer the best grade of coffee from Rwanda, NAEB increased the number of fully washed coffee up to 41 per cent in 2014 from 33 per cent in 2013 and 1 per cent in 2002 respectively. NAEB also increased the volume and revenues of coffee since it was noticed that Rwanda coffee caught the attention of coffee consumers worldwide due to its high quality.

According to NAEB reports, 16,379 metric tons of green coffee generated 59.7million USD in

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Coffee 2014 and the target is to have 26,000 metric tons of green coffee. An increase of productivity from 2.4 kg/tree in 2014 to 3.1 kg/tree is projected in 2017/2018 Other efforts devised by NAEB to promote coffee in this subsector involve training of coffee farmers. Every year, 25 cooperatives are trained and supported to expand their profitability.

Horticulture

Pepper for export Development and Poverty Reduction Strategy (EDPRS II)

Logistical facilities at dispatch points Several facilities have been established at the airport to enable these highly perishable products to reach their market destinations while as fresh as possible.

Herve Ineza, the head of Logistics, Exports and Imports for NAEB at the Kigali International airport in Kanombe explains that various logistical facilities have been put in place to ensure that perishable agricultural products are handled appropriately at the airport.

“We are the link between the farmers/exporters and the transporters. It is our duty to ensure that those transporting products like flowers have enough conditioned rooms with controlled atmosphere to preserve them products while in transit,” explains Ineza.

Ineza further points out that NAEB ensures that farmers who want to sell their

After its introduction in 2012, the area under cultivation for floriculture was increased from 10 ha to about 70 ha.

Figures from NAEB show that the highly perishable horticulture industry fetched more than $6.1 million (Rwf4.7 billion) in the 11 months to November 2015, up from $4.3 million that was realised in the same period in 2014.

In 2013, horticulture accounted for an estimated 3.2 percent of the national GDP and 9.7 percent of agricultural Gross Domestic Product. This is despite the fact that the production of fruits and vegetables occupied only an estimated 6.4 percent of the country’s cultivated land.

While the sector has generated export revenues close to $10m, NAEB increased its interventions in order to promote produce in this area and in the years to come, Rwanda will be among the top producers.

Overall export figures from these crops are expected to rise from the current 21 percent to 28 per cent in the next five years and the import base expected to go down 17 per cent as it is indiSelect Rwanda Coffees cated in the ongoing Economic

Some Rwanda tea

products do not find forwarding and clearing agents a burden.

“Right from the trailers which carry the goods, we get involved to help exporters deal with these operations within the minimum duration possible,” says Ineza.

Going private To further improve service delivery, this year NAEB revealed its plans of becoming a private entity. Consequently, government slashed its budgetary allocation by 80 per cent in the current fiscal year.

Ntwari adds that as a private organisation, the body will have more bargaining power and flexibility to overcome constraints such as air costs that sometimes reduce profitability for farmers.

“The new arrangement will catalyse investments through ensuring that gaps available in the export logistical chain such as high cost of packaging materials and high airfreight charges are neutralised. We hope this will attract more investment from private individuals,” he adds.

Rwanda Coffee

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SPECIAL REPORT

A Farmer Promoter in Bugesera. Farmer Promoters crucial to Twigire Muhinzi success

Twigire Muhinzi: Promoting social cohesion, boosting farm yields Twigire Muhinzi is a home-grown decentralised, farmer oriented national agricultural extension and advisory services delivery model of the Rwanda government xviii

The Independent | SEPTEMBER 2016

T

he model is premised on two simple yet powerful ideas.

The first is that if one farmer in a village is empowered with better skills to improve his yield, neighbors will learn from him or her.

This idea birthed the Farmer Promoters program whose motto is ‘Seeing is Believing.’

The second idea is that farmers need practical, observation-based training to understand why certain farming approaches work better than others. And so the Farmer Field School (FFS) approach was born, with the tagline “The plant is the teacher”.

Twigire Muhinzi combines the two approaches to form a comprehensive model for scaling up knowledge-intensive farming in Rwanda.

SPECIAL REPORT

TWIGIRE MUHINZI IN NUMBERS (2015 DATA) Farmer Promoters (Fp) Farmer Field Schools (Ffs)

• • • • • • • • • •

14,200 Farmer Promoters 10,000 Demo plots 1,100,200 Farmers trained by FP 75,800 Farmer Groups countrywide Over 12% production increase in FP 2,500 FFS Facilitators 8,000 FFS plots 200,000 FFS Farmers 8000 FFS Groups countrywide Over 37% production increase in FFS

Twigire Muhinzi in action Farmers are organised into groups, and each village identifies one volunteer Farmer Promoter through a participatory exercise.

The Farmer Promoters are then given extension materials as well as basic training in improved agricultural practices, after which they set up a demonstration plot to cultivate crops using the methods he or she learnt.

The other farmers visit the demonstration plot three times in a season to see for themselves the higher yield resulting from good agricultural practices, in line with the “Seeing is Believing” motto. Thus, they also learn some techniques on how to improve their own farming practice.

The Farmer Promoter also mobilises the farmers for increased use of improved seeds, fertilisers and other farm inputs.

At the same time, farmers are grouped in Farmer Field Schools where they will receive hands-on experience in the farm through experimentation, observation, and analysis with the crops in the field. Farmers meet in the field once a week to learn and discuss ways to improve their agricultural practice.

This approach involves a Facilitator selected by the community to guide the learning process in the FFS group after a season-long intensive training on how to empower farmers to become active learners.

TWIGIRE MUHINZI TOTAL PROJECTION: additional farm revenue per season

USD 38,000,000

Twigire Muhinzi Projection (2016 -2019) The goal: to reach 0ver 1,500,000 Farmers Annual Implementation cost: 14 billion Rwf (20 million USD) Outcome: 300 Billion Rwf (400 million USD) additional annual farm revenue

A winning formula The chief reason Twigire Muhinzi is such a success is because Farmer Promoters and FFS Facilitators are fellow farmers, chosen by them, and thus the farming community identifies with them, interacts with them naturally, and easily buys into the relevance of the improved farming practices they advocate.

Moreover, by building on the best aspects of the Farmer Promoter and the Farmer Field School approaches, Twigire Muhinzi results in a cost- efficient and effective way to reach out to all farmers in Rwanda and to effectively transform the country’s agriculture sector from

Farmer explains difference between rice and weed

The Independent | SEPTEMBER 2016

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SPECIAL REPORT

Rwanda’s Field Schools: Where farmers become researchers

O

Farmers learn through observation and discussion in the field

the bottom up.

Thus, collectively, the Farmer Promoters and FFS Facilitators form a powerful nationwide network of frontline extension agents.

For the 2016 season, 28 cooperatives of FFS Facilitators signed performance contracts with their respective districts and RAB in which they commit to provide training and backstopping for the Farmer Promoters and to continue to create new FFS groups.

Beyond yields: Promoting social capital

The dual-pronged implementation of Twigire Muhinzi has led to considerable increases in crop yield and farm income; but perhaps another important outcome of the project is the social cohesion it engenders.

Farmers feel more secure belonging being members of a group in which members support each other. Most groups spontaneously develop a savings component which assists members when need arises, as well as discussing many other topics of importance to their members’ welfare such as health insurance, school fees, gender issues, and HIV/AIDS. They also learn how to apply integrated, eco-friendly pest and crop management practices.

Therese Mukamana, FFS Facilitator

n a farm deep in Bugesera, an argument rages on among a group of gathered farmers over a newly found entity in the plot: is it a weed, or is it genuine rice?

“But it looks exactly like rice,” reply the colleagues of the young man clad in a T-shirt who discovered the puzzling plant. He is adamant that it is a weed.

“Why do you say it is not rice,” asks the group’s facilitator, coming closer.

“Look at this plant’s stem. It is totally smooth!

The rice we planted has a hairy stem,” the young man explains. The other farmers look closely. He is right. The Facilitator gives them another proof: Rice has ligules; the new crop does not. It is definitely a weed.

Ligules. The farmers have never heard of them before. They are learning something. They observe the ligules carefully as the facilitator explains in more detail what they are. The secretary asks for the word’s spelling, writes it down, and draws a small sketch to indicate their position on the anatomy of the rice plant.

You have just witnessed a Farmer Field School (FFS) in progress. The FFS is one of the prongs of the Twigire Muhinzi farmer oriented agricultural extension service model on Rwanda. The FFS tagline is “The plant is the teacher” which means farmers research and learn through practical observation in the field. The sort of discovery by observation seen above is typical of the FFS experience for the members of any FFS group.

“We try to ensure that every farmer participates in all activities in the learning field, and that each one’s questions are answered,” says FFS facilitator Therese Mukamana.

Today, as they do once each week, they have come to their FFS learning plot for their weekly meeting where they study the effect of different farming practices on their output. In fact, the farmers are truly researchers in their own right. The FFS learning field is the ‘laboratory’ where farmers study what works and what does not, and ‘the plant is the teacher’.

Therefore, the learning Fields are sub-divided into many subplots.

In the first subplot, they have planted a new rice variety called “Insindagirabigega”; in the next they test the impact of mechanised weeding compared with the traditional methods; in the final three, they explore the use of fertiliser, with slight variations in the type, quantity and duration of application, and so on.

At the end of the season, farmers will observe the yields and make informed decisions based on their observations.