New High-Tech Storage Facility to Boost Onion and Chili Farmers in Rwanda

In a groundbreaking move to support farmers and reduce crop losses, the National Agriculture Export Development Board (NAEB) is set to build a state-of-the-art storage facility designed to process and dry chili and onion crops.

This modern facility will include advanced drying machines, with the goal of minimizing spoilage during harvest time.

On December 10, 2024, NAEB, in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources and the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), launched the construction of this innovative storage facility.

Currently, between 8-10% of the crops are lost during harvest due to lack of proper storage, but this new facility is expected to drastically reduce these losses.

Dr. Mark Cyubahiro Bagabe, Rwanda’s Minister of Agriculture and Animal Resources, emphasized that this project, which is valued at over 11 billion Rwandan francs, will not only reduce crop wastage but also enhance the quality of these key agricultural products.

“This facility will help farmers avoid the losses they’ve faced from inadequate storage. When crops ripen, farmers often can’t store them for long periods, but with this facility, they’ll be able to store their produce until market conditions are favorable,” he explained.

The new facility will also add significant value to the crops, ensuring that Rwanda can export more produce that meets high-quality standards without compromising on quality. This will open up new opportunities for farmers in both local and international markets.

Farmers and suppliers in the chili and onion industries are optimistic about the facility’s potential to solve challenges they have faced during harvest time.

Herman Uwizeyimana, one of the suppliers, shared how their business struggled with crop shortages and fluctuating market prices. “In the past, we faced challenges because we often couldn’t meet market demand due to crop losses,” he said. “The new storage facility gives us hope, as we’ll now be able to store our produce and access better prices, even when the market is slow.”

Sebera Nicodem, an onion farmer from Rubavu, expressed his excitement about the new facility.

“We recently had an issue where a large portion of our harvest spoiled because we lacked proper long-term storage,” he explained. “Now that this storage facility is being built, we’re confident that we’ll be able to increase our production and avoid further losses.”

The facility in Rubavu will be the first of four, with additional ones planned for Rulindo, Bugesera, and Rubavu Districts. These state-of-the-art storage units will benefit over 5,000 farmers across various cooperatives, helping them boost their productivity and profitability.

With this new development, Rwanda is taking significant steps towards strengthening its agricultural sector, reducing crop losses, and increasing its export potential, ultimately contributing to the economic growth of the country.