Over 30,000 smallholder farmers have experienced significant improvements in income, market access, productivity inputs, and training across key agricultural value chains, thanks to a five-year horticulture project championed by Tearfund Rwanda. Among these farmers, 72.1% were women from the districts of Bugesera, Rwamagana, Kayonza, and Gasabo.

The project, titled Catalysing Market Prospects for Horticulture Smallholder Farmers and SMEs in Rwanda, was launched in 2020 in partnership with the African Evangelistic Enterprise, with funding from the European Union channeled through the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning (MINECOFIN), with technical support from the National Agricultural Export Development Board (NAEB),

Its focus was to enhance productivity, expand market access, and build strong agricultural networks, resulting in a notable rise in export volumes and incomes for both farmers and agribusinesses – an ambition that was achieved. Specifically, chili production soared from 24,705 kg to 867,512 kg, and French bean production rose from 87,142 kg to 4,403,097 kg. This contributed to a 470% increase in annual export sales volume for chili and French beans, and a 5% increase in national exports from targeted zones. Furthermore, 30,072 smallholder farmers were linked to market information, and the project facilitated significant connections, with 99.9% of farmer groups linked to financial service providers and 99.8% to agri-input suppliers.

The closing ceremony, held on June 10, was attended by government officials, agricultural experts and featured a special exhibition by smallholder farmers, showcasing diverse products and value chains developed through the project.

Additionally, the project successfully linked nearly all participating farmers to financial services and input suppliers, while helping SMEs expand exports and grow their client base through trade fairs and contract farming agreements

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Speaking at the event, the Country Director of Tearfund Rwanda, Dr. Emmanuel Murangira, emphasised that the true success of the project lies in its ability to empower communities and build lasting resilience, noting the determination of smallholder farmers who, despite numerous challenges, have embraced innovation, improved their productivity, and accessed markets that were once out of reach.

"We have witnessed smallholder farmers embrace new techniques, enhance their productivity, and gain access to markets that were once beyond their reach. Their perseverance and resilience have been the driving force behind this project’s success,” he said.

Tearfund has worked with the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal resources(MINAGRI) to upgrade the E-SOKO platform, a practical solution that connects producers, traders, and exporters across the entire horticulture value chain, making it even more accessible and suitable for smallholder farmers.

According to Murangira, the E-SOKO platform will empower farmers and market actors with real-time access to supply and demand information, ensuring responsive, transparent, and efficient trade.

"We have trained both farmers and exporters in its use and the platform will reinforce local capacity and pave the way for inclusive digital transformation within the sector, with other lessons learned during the project are all essential pillars for scaling success and ensuring continued impact well beyond the life of the project,” he noted.

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Mugeni Kayitenkore, Programmes Officer at the European Union Delegation to Rwanda, highlighted the EU’s strategic support to Rwanda’s horticulture sector in direct response to a request from the Government of Rwanda.

She emphasised that the standout impact of the Tearfund-led initiative was its direct and measurable effect on the lives of smallholder farmers.

"The difference with this project is that you can actually tell how smallholder farmers have improved their livelihoods, that’s the best impact you can expect, and I also know that many farmers have not only improved productivity but also gained access to export markets,” she said.

Kayitankore also underlined the importance of focusing on smallholder farmers in Rwanda, given that they are the backbone of the country’s agricultural system.

General Secretary of the Horticulture Exporters Association of Rwanda, Annie Justine Mahoro, reflected on the valuable collaboration between exporters and the Tearfund-led project, noting that before the project, challenges with both the quality and quantity of produce limited their ability to access international markets.

"The project trained farmers in producing both high-quality and higher quantities of crops, which allowed us to secure reliable out growers and send produce to international markets,” she explained.

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Mahoro also highlighted the role the project played in helping exporters participate in major international exhibitions, including events in Sweden, Spain, and London, which opened new market opportunities.

"We thank the project and promise to keep working faithfully with the out growers they linked us with, we are also very thankful for the international exposure that didn't just benefit exporters; it also enabled them to offer better prices to farmers, creating a positive ripple effect across the value chain,” she added.

Emmanuel Ndagijimana, a participating farmer who cultivates cucumbers, French beans, and tomatoes, shared how the project significantly improved both his farming practices and market access, explaining that before the project, they lacked proper techniques and struggled to find reliable buyers for their produce.

"The training helped us know how to look for markets and improve our yield. We were also taught how to record what we are doing, now we know how to find the markets, we were taught how to increase our yield and keep an accurate record,” he said.