Innocent Nsengumurenyi, a farmer from Bugarama sector, in Rusizi District, stood before hundreds of fellow farmers and guests, recounting his journey of struggle, uncertainty, and resilience.

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During the launch of Bank of Kigali’s Integrated Agribusiness Programme on December 5, Nsengumurenyi, along with the more than 6,500 farmers he represented, also testified how they are now experiencing the beginning of a new era in which agriculture is no longer a gamble, but a structured pathway to prosperity.

Their story with Bank of Kigali began in 2018, a time when as rice farmers, they cultivated tirelessly but remained trapped in cycles of unpredictable markets and limited capital.

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"In 2019, we had a huge harvest, but when Covid-19 hit, our market vanished, and our produce kept piling up as many of us continued planting, hoping for a quick turnaround, yet debts grew and hope faded, leaving us stuck with overflowing stores and decreasing options,” he recalls.

He recalls the shock of those days with sincerity.

"We continued planting and soon harvested more rice that had nowhere to go. Once again, the market stalled. It was at this point that Bank of Kigali chose a different approach from traditional lenders, instead of pressing harder, they stepped closer and saw value where others saw risk and the future where others saw a dead end; they extended fresh financing to keep us afloat and ensured we could purchase additional produce, and stock for the post-Covid recovery,” he said.

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Nsengumuremyi further said that by 2021 and 2022, the market recovered and they finally sold their rice, cleared their loans, and regained their confidence.

"What could have been a collapse became a turning point, BK’s bold intervention did not just rescue us, but stabilised an entire value chain and expanded rice cultivation across 15,000 hectares,” he added

Today, rice farmers in Bugarama stand as proof that banking can transform livelihoods when it moves beyond transactions and enters the realm of partnership.

This is the spirit behind the Integrated Agribusiness Programme, a groundbreaking initiative designed to reach over 100,000 farmers across Rwanda, giving them access to finance, skills development and reliable markets.

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It is a programme that redefines what a bank can be in a modern agriculture-dependent economy, a catalyst for inclusion, a bridge between potential and prosperity, and a central player in delivering Rwanda’s development vision.

As Sylver Ganishuri from Rwanda SmallHolder Coffee Farmers Company (Rwashoscco) noted, small farmers struggle with the basics, access to capital, poor documentation, lack of financial records and limited technical knowledge that makes it hard to qualify for loans, even when they have viable projects.

"Many possess skills in the field but lack the paperwork required by financial institutions, Bank of Kigali’s new programme directly responds to these barriers by walking alongside farmers, not waiting for them to meet traditional thresholds.

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According to the Permanent Secretary at MINAGRI, Olivier Kamana, this approach aligns with Rwanda’s momentum. He emphasised that the programme arrives at a decisive moment, when Rwanda is pushing for resilient, market-driven agri-food systems under the fifth Strategic Plan for Agriculture Transformation known as PSTA 5.

"This strategy will guide the next five years of agricultural transformation, driving a shift towards digital tools, stronger value chains, climate-smart practices and greater private-sector participation. It is reshaping the national landscape, and this initiative shows they sit at the centre of the country’s transformation,” Kamana said.

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Kamana further explained that Rwanda aims to increase agriculture’s share of bank lending from six per cent to ten per cent by 2029, a target that demands financial institutions capable of both innovation and deep sector engagement.

"BK’s work fits this model perfectly, especially as the country seeks to empower youth entering agri-food systems, the programme will translate policy into action by offering mentorship, tailored training, market linkages and accessible financing to young agripreneurs. It will also build integrated digital farmer profiles, track progress and strengthen national data systems, all critical tools for future competitiveness,” he added.

Ingrid Karangwayire, Executive Secretary of BK Foundation, described the programme as a shared effort between BK and a wide range of partners including cooperatives and agriculture-based MSMEs.

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She noted that the collective target is ambitious but achievable, reaching 100,000 farmers in five years, and expanding beyond that as the model matures.

"With a focus on climate-smart agriculture, market access, and hands-on capacity-building, this programme will equip farmers and agronomists with new tools for success. The foundation has already trained 17 trainers who will provide knowledge in financial literacy and improved agricultural practices, beginning with the rice and coffee value chains. This is only the start; many more will follow as BK deepens its rural footprint and supports farmers long before they reach a crisis point,” she said.

For BK’s Chief Executive Officer, Diane Karusisi, the message is clear.

"We are rethinking how banks have been approaching agriculture, for years, financing primarily flowed to large cooperatives and institutions taking loans of Rwf 100 million to Rwf 1 billion, yet the heart of Rwanda’s agriculture lies with individual farmers who may only need Rwf 5 million or Rwf 10 million to expand operations and improve their lives and develop the country, that is where BK now intends to lead,” she said.

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She added that by combining financial literacy training delivered through BK Foundation with streamlined credit, market linkages and a value-chain perspective, BK is redefining the banking experience for smallholders.

"Farmers who once could not access credit because they lacked collateral or financial discipline will now receive coaching that helps them manage money, plan investments and grow sustainably; once equipped, they will be eligible for larger financing and broader opportunities,” she added.

Alexis Bizimana, Head of Agribusiness at BK, noted that this programme is not about lending alone but also partnership.

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"BK will equip farmers with the skills to understand their financials, plan for their operations, measure input investments and access markets early enough to guarantee repayment, it is about ensuring that each farmer becomes an empowered entrepreneur with a clear mission and reliable support,” Bizimana said.

Underneath it all lies BK Foundation’s broader commitment as the philanthropic arm of the BK Group.

Focused on measurable national impact, the foundation operates with a vision that every investment must translate into progress for Rwanda, and its role in this programme is not an add-on but a backbone that ensures knowledge, capacity and opportunity travel together.

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Bizimana concluded that the launched Integrated Agribusiness Programme is more than a financial solution as it is a nationwide invitation to dream bigger, grow smarter and build wealth sustainably.

"This is a new face of agricultural finance, rooted in partnership, driven by innovation and guided by the belief that when farmers rise, the country rises with them,” he said.