In 2022, we have started up our work in Rwanda. In 2024, we reached 5,685 producers.
Good Food for Cities programme highlights for 2024
We are currently running our Good Food for Cities programme in the city of Rubavu and Gisenyi. We aim to improve the horticulture production in western Rwanda, where a large proportion Rwanda’s horticulture produce is cultivated, and create a better enabling environment for food safety and the fight against malnutrition on national and city level. In Rubavu District, Rikolto supported 1,298 smallholder vegetable farmers (621 women, 677 men, including 179 youth and 4 people with disabilities) to adopt regenerative agricultural practices. Two post-harvest facilities - a charcoal cooler and an onion dryer - were also constructed to reduce food losses. With support from the EU-funded Kungahara project, these practices have been extended to Musanze and Nyabihu districts. Additionally, five supply linkages between producer cooperatives and traders were facilitated, enabling 880 tonnes of vegetables to be sold through formal channels, generating over €268,344. In parallel, a total of 60 demonstration gardens were established, leading to replication by 2,239 households. Rikolto also worked with partners in Rubavu to introduce a crop-specific financial product. At the national level, Rikolto contributed to the formal registration of horticultural value chain platforms.
Sustainable Cocoa and Coffee programme highlights for 2024
Together with SUCAFINA Rwanda (RWACOF), we are working with 3,425 coffee farmers — all women — to close the living income gap, focusing on diversification, access to finance and increased food security. We facilitated nutrition training for 1,047 farmers — also all women, distributed seeds, and established kitchen gardens. In parallel, 22 new Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLAs) with 481 members (42% women and 26% young people) were supported, and 25 high-performing VSLAs received an additional investment. 30 improved pig breeds were distributed to VSLA members to boost income generation.