Rwanda builds centers to reduce farm losses
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The government of Rwanda, working with the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), is building five new post-harvest centers to help farmers avoid losses from falling market prices.
For years, farmers in Rubavu, Rulindo, Nyagatare and Bugesera districts have faced financial hardship when large harvests drove down the price of onions and other crops.
Yvonne Nyirambanjinka, a farmer in Rubavu District, lost the equivalent of $1,000 on an onion crop in 2020 when prices plummeted, and many others considered giving up farming due to debt. The $11 million project will provide facilities where farmers can dry, cure, and store produce until market conditions improve. Nicodem Sebera, president of KOBATU Cooperative, explained that farmers often face a choice between harvesting at a loss or abandoning their crops in the fields when supply exceeds demand.
The centers are designed to receive up to 9.6 tonnes of chili and 34.4 tonnes of onions each week, with temperature-controlled rooms for drying and storage. Aimable Rusingizandekwe, project manager at the National Agricultural Export Development Board (NAEB), said the centers will allow farmers to preserve crops and sell them when prices rise. NAEB also plans to train farmers on post-harvest handling and food safety standards.
The facilities are expected to be operational in November, and the project aims to reduce post-harvest losses of chili by 8.5 percentage points and onion losses by 7.7 percentage points.
