Farmers in several parts of Rwanda are increasing horticulture yields and incomes after the Commercialization and De-Risking for Agricultural Transformation (CDAT) project introduced improved seed, farming training, erosion-control measures and links to reliable markets.

The project, which works with 74 cooperatives in 15 districts, has recorded higher productivity in crops including onions, chilli and French beans. Average onion productivity, for example, rose from 13 tonnes per hectare in 2024 to 14.8 tonnes in 2025, while French bean productivity increased from eight to 11.8 tonnes per hectare in Season B.

The changes are helping address two persistent problems facing horticulture farmers — degraded farmland that limits production and unreliable markets that leave farmers with low prices or unsold produce. In Gisagara, farmers have used terraces and improved onion seed to raise production, while in Ruhango, tomato farmers have been linked to buyers after previously spending days searching for markets.

At KORWAMUKI Cooperative in Gisagara District, farmers in Nyakanyeri wetland had struggled with soil erosion, poor-quality seed and limited farming knowledge.

CDAT supported wetland rehabilitation, constructed terraces on 40 hectares of surrounding hills, supplied improved onion seed and trained farmers in better agronomic practices.

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"CDAT gave us onion seed, which we planted on three hectares and harvested 18 tonnes of onions, which we have already taken to the market,” said Saverine Mukeshimana, president of KORWAMUKI Cooperative.

"Before we got quality seed, we could not produce more than four tones from the three hectares. The produce was highly demanded and we sold it at Rwf700 per kilogramme, compared with Rwf500 previously.”

The project-wide figures point in the same direction. Average onion productivity increased from 13 tonnes per hectare in 2024 to 14.8 tones per hectare in 2025.

But producing more can also raise costs if farmers depend heavily on purchased fertiliser.

KORWAMUKI farmers were trained to make manure from crop waste, reducing their dependence on purchased fertiliser.

Mukeshimana said some farmers who previously spent about Rwf80,000 per hectare on fertiliser now spend around Rwf35,000 because they make much of their own manure.

The cooperative&039;s seasonal income has risen from about Rwf6 million before CDAT support to Rwf32 million, according to Mukeshimana.

Jean Baptiste Ndahimana, who has grown onions in the wetland for five years, expects to harvest about 500 kilogrammes from five acres, compared with around 350 kilogrammes previously.

He has used the additional income to buy a cow, pay school fees and build savings of about Rwf1.5 million.

"Even if the project ends, we will use the knowledge it gave us to farm in a modern way and teach others,” he said.

But higher production does not guarantee higher earnings if farmers cannot sell what they harvest.

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In Kanyeganyege wetland which stretches to Ruhango and Nyanza Districts, tomato farmers in Abiyunze Kinazi Cooperative could previously spend up to three days looking for buyers after harvesting, leaving some tomatoes to spoil.

The cooperative now expects to harvest 13 to 14 tonnes per hectare, compared with about seven to eight tonnes previously. A crate that once sold for no more than Rwf3,000 in local markets can now fetch Rwf18,000 after farmers were linked to a reliable buyer.

"Previously, we sold a crate of tomatoes in local markets for no more than Rwf3,000, but after getting a buyer, a crate now reaches Rwf18,000,” said Bonifasi Bavakure, president of Abiyunze Kinazi Cooperative.

Bavakure said the project taught farmers when to plant, how to identify suitable fertiliser and how to find markets.

"CDAT taught us how to plant at the right time, identify the appropriate fertiliser and helped us find a market,” he said.

The market link has also reduced losses during transportation.

Antoinette Mukandayisabye, a trader who buys the cooperative&039;s tomatoes for markets in Nyarugenge, said poor-quality tomatoes were easily damaged on the journey.

"When we transported about five tonnes before, only about two tonnes would reach the market because the tomatoes were damaged as a result of poor seed,” she said.

She said the improved tomatoes withstand transportation better and can compete with produce from neighbouring countries such as Tanzania and Kenya.

The cooperative has planted tomatoes on 20 hectares this year, rotating the crop with rice.

CDAT's available data does not provide a project-wide productivity trend for tomatoes, but its figures show increases in other horticultural crops.

In Bugesera District, chilli farmers faced another problem: they could grow the crop but could not always find buyers.

Edward Bamporiki, a member of IZMGM Cooperative in Mareba Sector, had grown chilli for about five years. He said he sometimes failed to find a market and, when he did, the price was often low.

"Before CDAT came, I would grow chilli and sometimes fail to find a market. When I found a buyer, the price was often very low,” Bamporiki said.

CDAT provided improved seed, training and learning visits and linked farmers to buyers.

Bamporiki says his productivity has increased from four tonnes per hectare to 11 tonnes.

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Project figures also show increases in chilli productivity across different seasons. In Season A, average productivity increased from 7.4 tonnes per hectare in 2023 to 8.9 tonnes in 2025. In Season B, it rose from seven to eight tonnes, while Season C recorded the largest increase, from six to 10 tonnes per hectare.

Beatha Ntabanganyimana, president of IZMGM Cooperative, said the intervention also reduced losses between production and the market.

"Since CDAT came, we have increased production. On one hectare, we used to harvest two to three tonnes of chilli, but now we reach 4.5 tonnes per hectare. This was because they gave us quality seed, provided compost manure and linked us to markets,” she said.

The cooperative has taken 56 tonnes of chilli to market and earns about Rwf32 million per season.

The wider commercial reach of chilli is reflected in CDAT figures showing that 10 cooperatives exported 4,000.319 tonnes worth about Rwf2.16 billion.

For Bamporiki, higher earnings have allowed him to invest beyond the farm.

He has bought a cow worth about Rwf1.5 million, two pigs worth Rwf400,000 and two breeding goats. He is also building a house expected to cost about Rwf9 million.

His farm now employs about 40 permanent and casual workers, including a person with a disability.

CDAT has also supported terraces covering 68 hectares in the area, alongside trees and livestock fodder, to reduce erosion and protect farmland.

French beans show how the benefits of commercial horticulture can extend beyond farmers who own fields.

Average French bean productivity increased from eight tonnes per hectare to 10.3 tonnes in Season A and from eight to 11.8 tonnes in Season B, a 47.5 per cent increase.

In Nyagatare District, the crop has created work for people who previously depended on jobs elsewhere.

Julien Ntiratuza used to travel to Uganda to find work. She now sorts French beans and takes on other farm activities in her community.

"It was hectic working in Uganda and returning home to Rwanda every day. I was exhausted and worried about what was happening at home,” she said.

"But after farmers started growing French beans in the wetland, I got a job sorting the harvest and doing other farm activities. On a good day, I earn Rwf10,000.”

She saves through a women's savings group and has used her earnings to buy two goats.

The crop is also reaching larger markets. CDAT figures show that 17 cooperatives exported 3,294 tonnes of fresh beans worth about Rwf1.62 billion.

The growing market is giving some young people an opportunity to build businesses around horticulture.

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Fidel Turanezerewe, who leads Terimbere Youth KABOKU, started farming in 2020 after completing secondary school. After CDAT training and learning visits, he says his production doubled.

"Where I used to harvest seven tonnes of chilli or French beans, depending on what I planted, I now harvest 14 tonnes,” he said. "As a result, my income has increased from Rwf5 million to Rwf8 million.”

He used part of the income to build a house worth Rwf12 million and now buys French beans from other farmers before selling them to companies.

Another youth group has found a business opportunity in agricultural waste.

Uhiriwenimana Emmanuel&039;s group produces organic fertiliser. CDAT trained its members to improve the quality of their compost and later agreed to buy it.

"Recently, they measured 552.2 tonnes of fertiliser from us and agreed to buy it at Rwf35 per kilogramme. That means they will pay us more than Rwf19 million in total,” he said.

The group has 40 members, including 25 men and 15 women, who grow French beans and chilli.

The experiences across the districts point to a common problem in horticulture: farmers cannot benefit fully from producing more if they lack the knowledge to grow quality crops, cannot protect their land or have nowhere reliable to sell what they harvest.

Muhoza Chantal, a CDAT horticulture officer, said the project chose to work through cooperatives to reach more farmers with training.

"The reason CDAT chose to work with farmers through cooperatives was to reach many farmers at once, so that when training is provided, they can receive it together,” farmers initially faced several challenges, including poor market access, transport problems, limited information about markets and agricultural inputs, and gaps in knowledge of good farming practices. CDAT responded with training, field demonstrations, learning visits, cooperative support, erosion-control measures, matching grants and market linkages.”she said.

The project has combined the training with field demonstrations and learning visits, while supporting erosion control, cooperative strengthening, access to inputs and market links.

The approach is now being extended to crops that take longer to mature.

CDAT has prepared 52,440 avocado seedlings across 12 districts through 18 groups trained in seedling propagation. The groups established demonstration fields and were linked to markets, with Hass and Fuerte varieties among those being promoted.

The project has also supplied crop-protection equipment, including electric sprayers and protective equipment, according to KABOKU Cooperative president Wilberforce Ngabirano.

CDAT works with 74 cooperatives in 15 districts. The project says it has trained 470 young people in horticulture and created 70,527 jobs, with women accounting for 35.7 per cent.