At least 10 cold-room packhouse facilities across six districts are set to be rehabilitated and brought back into operation, in a move aimed at reducing post-harvest losses and improving market access for farmers. The intervention follows concerns from farmers over limited post-harvest handling infrastructure, particularly for perishable produce such as fruits and vegetables. The issue also came to light during a high-level meeting, where the Prime Minister informed President Paul Kagame that some cooling equipment had remained idle due to technical faults. ALSO READ: Horticulture: Rwanda’s new cash cow In response, the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources (MINAGRI), in partnership with the Africa Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Cooling and Cold-Chain (ACES) and the National Agricultural Export Development Board (NAEB), has launched an initiative to rehabilitate and optimise existing infrastructure. The 10 facilities, located in Rulindo, Rwamagana, Gatsibo, Ngoma, Nyanza and Karongi, are expected to serve more than 400,000 smallholder farming households across key agricultural zones. Each packhouse will include 120 square metres of processing space, cold storage, temperature-controlled environments (12–15°C for processing and up to 4°C for storage), solar-powered systems, and aggregation infrastructure. ALSO READ: Rwanda’s horticulture exports generate $46m in 8 months Olivier Kamana, Permanent Secretary at MINAGRI, said the initiative is central to efforts to modernise agriculture and strengthen market linkages. “By reinforcing cold-chain systems and connecting farmers to reliable markets, we are addressing post-harvest losses while unlocking opportunities for value addition, exports and rural incomes,” he said. Beyond infrastructure, the initiative aims to improve the movement of produce from farm to market under controlled conditions, extending shelf life and reducing waste. An MoU between MINAGRI and ACES has been signed to support implementation. ALSO READ: $11m horticulture centres to cut post-harvest losses Scaling up cold-chain investment Rwanda’s horticulture sector presents significant potential for cold-chain expansion. Estimates show the total addressable market for fruit and vegetable cold chains covers 495,155 hectares across 13,379 production sites. The 10-packhouse network will serve 4,811 production sites, about 36 per cent of this market covering 185,447 hectares and handling over 2.3 million metric tonnes of produce annually. Even at low utilisation levels of 1.6 per cent, the facilities can operate at full capacity, underscoring their commercial viability. The project is also expected to establish integrated food corridors linking farmers to domestic premium markets, exporters, and regional and international value chains. Facilities will comply with HACCP and Rwanda GAP standards, with plans to transition to Global G.A.P. certification to meet international food safety requirements. They will also function as hubs for training, innovation and research, while attracting partnerships with investors, logistics providers and agribusinesses. Targeting key value chains In parallel, the government is investing in commodity-specific infrastructure, including one national and four local post-harvest centres for onions and chilli. Located in Kigali, Rubavu, Rulindo, Bugesera and Nyagatare, the Rwf4.9 billion facilities are designed to process 120 tonnes of onions and 79 tonnes of chilli within 48 hours. They are expected to cut post-harvest losses by nearly half—from 15.4 per cent to 7.7 per cent for onions, and from 17.2 per cent to 8.7 per cent for chilli. The investment reflects broader efforts to strengthen Rwanda’s agri-export competitiveness through improved efficiency, quality and value addition. Private sector role Industry players say cold-chain systems are critical to sustaining export growth. Emmanuel Harerimana, Director General of Garden Fresh Ltd, said the company’s exports have grown from 200 tonnes to 1,000 tonnes annually, driven in part by improved handling systems. “From production to market, proper cold storage, handling and transport are essential to maintain quality,” he said, noting that investment must go beyond infrastructure to include systems and logistics. Professor Toby Peters, founding director of ACES, warned that without effective cold-chain systems, up to 30 per cent of food can be lost after harvest. “This is not just about food waste—it is about lost income, lost nutrition and disrupted value chains,” he said. Claude Bizimana, CEO of NAEB, said the government is working to create conditions for greater private sector participation. While public investment laid the foundation for packhouses and cold-chain infrastructure, he said the long-term goal is for private players to take a leading role. “We are already seeing encouraging signs, including private operation of packhouses and growing investment in cold-chain systems,” he said. NAEB has also partnered with ACES to strengthen skills development and ensure sustainable management of the infrastructure. The overall objective, officials say, is to build a coordinated system where government, private sector and partners work together to deliver lasting impact for farmers.
