Farmer training lifts tea quality prospects under Rugabano Outgrowers Services Company

Tea production and quality in Karongi District are set for a major rise as Rugabano Outgrowers Services Company Limited (ROS) intensifies farmer training, equipping thousands of smallholder growers with skills to increase quality and yields to meet global standards. At least 5,396 tea farmers in the district are expected to benefit from the initiative designed to transform farming practices, raise incomes, and strengthen Rwanda’s position in the premium tea market. ROS is a service company registered by guarantee to provide professional agricultural services to smallholder tea farmers and expand tea plantations across four sectors—Rugabano, Gashali, Murundi and Gitesi—in Karongi District, Nyange in Ngororero District, and Mukura in Rutsiro District. ROS specifically supports farmers who supply tea to Rugabano Tea Company, which is part of Silverback Tea Company. 576 tea farmers graduate from Farmer Field School training programme as the latest cohort Among the services provided by ROS are advisory support and farmer training in professional tea farming and corporate governance. Through a one-year Farmer Field School (FFS) programme—an adult learning approach—farmers are equipped with practical skills. On Friday, 27 March 2026, a Farmer Field School graduation ceremony was held, where 576 tea farmers, of whom 243 are women, graduated after one year of training. The event took place at Rugabano Model Village Hall and involved at least 76 trainers. “We are training farmers in agricultural practices. We want change in terms of both quality and quantity. We are already increasing production annually as we expand the hectares under tea and train farmers.” Callixte Havugimana said. Quality improvement and expansion targets Callixte Havugimana, the General Manager of Rugabano Outgrowers Services Company Limited (ROS), said that the quality of tea grown by farmers currently ranges between 75 per cent and 80 per cent, and the aim is to maintain and improve this performance. “All farmers, including tea pluckers, must undergo training. New farmers are being prepared, and those ready to begin harvesting in September have already been trained,” he said. He added that tea – under its management– is currently grown on 2,000 hectares, including newly planted tea seedlings. “There are 1,500 hectares of tea plantations currently being harvested. We aim to reach 4,000 hectares by 2033. Each year, we plant between 250 and 300 hectares,” he said. About 4.7 million tea seedlings are planted annually, he indicated, adding that 14,000 tea seedlings are planted per hectare. Industry leadership and transformation Austin Changazi, Operations Director of ROS—commended hundreds of tea farmers graduating from the intensive training programme, urging them to drive transformation in Rwanda’s tea industry through quality production and knowledge sharing. He congratulated the graduates for completing the 12-month training programme in tea plantation management, describing their achievement as a milestone for the sector. The more than 500 newly graduated farmers join over 2,000 others already trained through the Farmer Field School initiative. The programme equips farmers with practical skills in agronomy, sustainability and farm management. Austin emphasised that the graduates are expected to become agents of change, improving both productivity and quality across Rwanda’s tea-growing regions. “You are going to be leaders of change in the tea industry in Rwanda,” he told the graduates. Focus on quality, productivity and income growth Bikram Jeet Gill the Senior Manager at Rugabano Tea Company underscored that tea quality remains the top priority for global buyers, noting that visiting partners are increasingly selective. “They are only looking for quality—nothing else but quality,” he emphasised, urging farmers to apply their training consistently in the field. He added that improved practices should translate into higher yields, better leaf quality and increased farmer incomes, encouraging graduates to aim for steady financial growth year after year. Factory capacity, market access and Rwanda’s growing tea industry Nzeki Samuel Munyao, the CEO of Silverback Tea Company, praised Rwanda’s growing reputation as a leading tea producer, noting that Rugabano Tea Company was ranked among the top tea producers in Africa in 2025. He credited this success to the commitment of farmers, stating that high-quality production has enabled Rwandan tea to command premium prices on the international market. He further appreciated the Government of Rwanda and the Industry regulator NAEB for creating an excellent environment in Rwanda condusive for the sustainable and consistent production of high quality teas. Munyao assured farmers that Rugabano factory has sufficient capacity to process all the tea leaves they can produce, with ongoing upgrades to handle future growth. “You can invest in agriculture knowing fully well that the factory is capable of handling all the produce from your farms,” he said. Environmental benefits of tea plantations, sustainability and knowledge sharing Beatrice Uwingeneye, an environmental officer in Karongi District, said tea plantations also contribute to environmental protection. “Tea plantations reduce soil erosion and carbon emissions. They could also help tap into the carbon market,” she said. Beyond quality and production, Munyao highlighted the importance of environmental conservation, urging farmers to protect soil health and ensure long-term productivity. He also called on graduates to share knowledge within their communities, extending the benefits of the training to other farmers at village and district levels. Austin also recognised the role of local government leadership, facilitators and partners in supporting tea expansion, thanking district authorities for providing land and backing development initiatives. What farmers learnt in the Farmer Field School The farmers were trained in areas including land preparation, erosion control, tea planting and infilling, aftercare maintenance, tea plucking and green leaf quality, as well as savings culture. “We commend ROS for the training. We are also pleased that aerial Ropeways are being established to transport tea produce,” said Noel Niyikora, a farmer representative, appreciating that the training focused on tea farming and covered other areas such as financial management and saving culture. Sylvestre Bosenibo, a tea farmer in Karongi who received a certificate after training, referred to the importance of quality leaf plucking as a stage where farmers begin to realise value from their work. The standard practice is to pluck “two leaves and a bud [from the tea bush],” which produces the highest-quality tea, he explained Green leaf quality ultimately determines the price farmers receive. Fresh tea leaves delivered to factories must be tender, clean and free from coarse material or foreign matter. “We analyse the leaves ourselves, and when two leaves and a bud dominate, we qualify our tea for supply,” said Jeannette Banezwenande, a tea farmer who also received a certificate. Alphonse Ntawiragira, another farmer, reflected on the savings culture promoted during training, saying that has helped farmers join EjoHeza – a long-term savings scheme mainly meant to help secure the future for informal sector workers. “It also helps us pay school fees and health insurance. With tea plantations, we are assured of access to bank loans,” he said. The graduation event was also graced by visiting Tea buyers from Clipper Tea of the UK, Daniel Parr and James Ikin, together with Edward Foster of TLE- UK. Edward while addressing the graduates told them that Visiting Rugabano, offers more than a look at tea production, it is an opportunity to experience a system where quality, people, and the environment come together. “I have visited many estates across the world, both smallholder and large scale. I do not travel without a good reason. The big story today in Tea is Rwanda. The quality across the country is strong, and in some places exceptional. That is why I am here,” Edward Foster said.

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Farmer training lifts tea quality prospects under Rugabano Outgrowers Services Company