A team of twelve members from the Young Presidents Organisation (YPO) visited Geranium farms in Rusororo sector in Gasabo district last week to see how they can partner with the crop growers developing it. The Geranium crop is used in producing essential oils.The YPO is an organisation made up of Chief Executive Officers (who are not yet 50 years old) of major companies in the world . The geranium farms are run by Ikirezi Natural Products which is a community-interest business that produces high quality essential oils and other natural plant products in partnership with small farmers in Rwanda. Speaking to The New Times, Dennis Overton, the Managing Director of Asquascot Ltd based in Scotland and also the leader of the YPO team said that they decided to come to Rwanda because they were interested in the Rwandan economy. “We have come to Rwanda because we are interested in its economy and we feel we are welcome. So we have come to see how we can partner in business with the Rwandese people,” he said. He also observed that the government of Rwanda is so serious with its vision 2020 and that Rwandan people are also serious in trying to achieve it. Nicholas Hitimana, Managing Director Ikirezi Natural Products, explained that Ikirezi is committed to improving the financial and social livelihood of the farmers in its partner associations/ cooperatives by ensuring that each group receives the possible maximum financial gain for its crops. He also said that in their programme they have try to involve as many widows and orphans as possible in order to try to improve their lives. The four acre farm of Geranium plants in Rusororo is one of the three sites in the country and the sites are the only ones where this plant is grown in the country. Other sites are in Nyagatare sector in the Eastern Province and in Kirehe district in the Western Province. Ends
