Tea growers in Nyamasheke District will soon get a ready market for their produce thanks to a $12 million factory being constructed in the district. Gatare Tea Factory located in Rushyarara cell, Karambi sector is a joint venture deal between Rwanda Mountain Tea Company and the Tea Co-operative of Gatare Farmers (COTHEGA) and is supported by the district. The co-operative has a 15 per cent stake in the project.

According to Josue Michel Ntaganira, the Nyamasheke vice-mayor in charge of economic development, the venture marks a turning point in the development of the tea sector in the district.

"When it starts operations, the factory will create new jobs and support infrastructure development in the district,” he said.

He added that farmers will also be encouraged to grow more tea, which will boost production and their income, thanks to a ready market. The new facility is expected to be inaugurated by July this year and will have the capacity to produce 360 tonnes of tea per year.  It is the second tea factory in Nyamasheke; the other one is Gisakura Tea Factory in Bushekeri sector.

The project is going to benefit over 3,000 farmers in the area, mostly out-growers, according to the district officials.

"Presently, about 300 people are employed by the venture and more will get jobs once the facility is completed, either directly or indirectly.” Already, there are noticeable changes in the area since construction activities started, Ntaganira added.

"New retail shops and restaurants have been opened, while SACCO for tea farmers has been formed and a small health centre set up. In addition, residents now have piped water and electricity. We expect more benefits from the project activities, particularly infrastructure development,” he said, adding that the district has repaired feeder roads to ease movements.

Under the National Agricultural Export Board (NAEB) tea expansion programme for 2012-2017, nine new factories are expected to be set up and new 18,000 hectares of tea will be planted. Of these, 10,000 hectares will be new sites, 4,138 hectares will be added on ongoing projects and 3,862 hectares allocated to existing factories. NAEB also targets to increase tea export earnings to $94.9 million by 2018.

Nyamasheke is among the targeted area for expansion of tea acreage because of its good climate, soils, altitude, rain and other conditions suitable for tea growing. Tea growing contributes about Rwf1.8 billion of the farmers’ income per year, district officials said, adding that at least 9,149,179 kilogrammes of tea are produced per year.

Therefore the new project will help the district fight poverty and improve people’s livelihood.

Ntaganira said the district will continue to train farmers on good agronomical practices, as well as entrepreneurship, business management and planning to ensure they benefit fully from this and other investments in the area.

The district will also increase infrastructure development to attract more investors, he added.

Fred Rwagasana, the Gatare Tea Factory manager, said they encouraged farmers to consolidate their land, where 1,700 hectares have been planted with tea and "we are targeting to increase this to 2,200 hectares”.

He added that they may start installing the necessary equipment at the factory, including withering, rolling, drying and sorting machines, by April and start operations in July.

Farmers speak out

Joseph Nzeyimana, a tea grower in Karambi sector, said lack of ready market has been a big challenge, noting that farmers in his area now have to travel long distances to Gisovu Tea Factory in Karongi District.

"We make losses because we don’t have a nearby factory where can sell our tea. We are happy and I expect more benefit from the new factory…this will encourage farmers to produce more tea,” Nzeyimana said.

Jean Damascene Kashitikiti, a farmer in Karambi sector, said, "The factory will help save time we would spend going to Gisovu.”

Rwanda’s tea exports decreased to $63.42 million  or by 12.96 per cent last year, from $72.86 million in 2015 recorded the previous year, current NAEB figures indicate.