Farmers in the three districts that make up Kigali city have identified lack of market and packaging problems as their main challenges.

This was acknowledged during the just concluded Rwanda Development Board (RDB) tour of agro-businesses in Kigali city.

The expedition that commenced last week, covered all three districts of Kicukiro, Gasabo and Nyarugenge, visiting farmers and cooperatives.

Speaking to The New Times, the RDB Principle Deputy CEO, George Mulamula, said the tour was organized in order to better explore the extensiveness of farming activities in Kigali rural area and as well understand the current needs of farmers and local investors in the agricultural sector.

"We have a misconception that Kigali is an urban area, but so far we have discovered that about 70% of Kigali is rural area. There are farming activities around, and this is a timely initiative since rural development is core in a country’s development,” said Mulamula.

Yesterday, the group visited three farmers’ cooperatives, two in Mageragere sector and one in Nduba sector of Gasabo district.

Cooperatives visited mainly produce beans, soya, tomatoes and cabbages on a large scale in three distinct valleys of Nyarufunzo of Mageragere and Kajevuba of Nduba sector.

Common challenges revealed by farmers include lack of packaging plants for horticultural products and inadequate market for their produce.

Mageragere farmers requested for a tomato processing plant, since the area has proved to be best for the product.

Responding to their request, Nyarugenge district’s vice Mayor of in charge of Finance and Economic Planning, Nizeyimana Alphonse, revealed  that the district already has it in its plans and that they would soon get a reply.

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