Known as the ‘land of a thousand hills’, Rwanda is a rich and beautiful landscape. Yet despite the land’s potential, it is still one of the poorest countries in the world. Half of the population live on less than $2.15 a day, struggling to feed their family regular meals and send their children to school.
Over 70% of the population in Rwanda rely on agriculture for their livelihood, and they face significant challenges. Land availability is scarce, with most smallholder farmers cultivating less than 1 hectare, and the land they do have is subject to soil erosion and quality degradation.
Most smallholder farmers are only achieving 20-40% of their land’s potential productivity.
This is where we come in. In partnership with Jersey Overseas Aid, we are supporting farmers in Rwanda to increase their farms productivity and provide a secure livelihood for themselves and their family.
Our three-year project aims to support over 24,000 smallholder farmers, including women, young persons and those living with a disability, to work their way out of poverty.
"This work is essential as it contributes to improving the livelihoods of smallholder farmers and other people in rural areas through increased agricultural productivity and income. It provides farmers with skills through relevant trainings and eased access to reasonable financial facilities."
Shema Placide, Regional Manager Francophone-Africa at Opportunity International.
WHAT CAUSES LOW FARM PRODUCTIVITY AND FARMER POVERTY?
No access to financial services – Smallholder farmers, particularly those from marginalised groups, are among the most financially underserved in Rwanda. Financial products are often not suitable for them and loans for inputs, such as fertiliser and good seed, are difficult to obtain
Lack of financial and agricultural knowledge – Many smallholder farmers have little or no financial understanding, or knowledge of modern agricultural techniques. Their farms are also increasingly vulnerable to extreme weather events, due to climate change, resulting in loss or damaged crops.
Absence of market information – Most smallholder farmers have no access to market information. They do not know when the best time to sell is, who to sell to or what the market price should be. As a result, they rarely achieve the best price for their produce.
WHAT WILL OPPORTUNITY INTERNATIONAL PROVIDE?
Tailored loans, savings and financial training – 12,000 farmers will access loans so they can buy inputs such as fertiliser and seed to improve their farm's productivity.
Agricultural and Financial Training – Over 16,000 farmers will be trained to manage their money, invest wisely and save. They will also be trained in good agricultural practices to help improve their yields and build resilience against climate shocks.
Access to market information – 10,000 farmers will receive regular market information, such as crop prices. With this they can make informed decisions about when and where to sell, strengthening their business.
Meet Alice, a farmer in Rwanda benefitting from the project.
Alice joined a savings group run by Opportunity International which helped her to save and take out a loan. She also received training in agriculture to improve her yield and build resilience. With her increased funds, she was able to renovate her house, fund family health insurance and buy clothes for her children. "Since I’ve joined the programme, I’ve gained confidence. I feel like the future will be good, my children will study and achieve great things. I’ll save for them and strive for them to get somewhere better than my family" Alice says.
Read Alice's Story