The Rwanda Food Smart Cities (FSC) Project is a 5-years initiative(2022-2026) implemented in Rubavu District with funding from the BelgianDevelopment Cooperation (DGD). The project is implemented by Rikolto inpartnership with Kilimo Trust and the Rwanda Consumer's Rights ProtectionOrganization (ADECOR). The project seeks to increase vegetables production,postharvest handling and marketing with emphasis on promotion of regenerativeagriculture practices and consumption of health, sustainable, and nutritious(HSN) foods.
Surrounded by productive agricultural land and enjoying a moderate climate, Rubavu is the centre of vegetable production in the Country. Given the small plots of the majority of small holder farmers and the heavy population pressure on available land, horticulture provides one on the best sources of HSN food. However, the production of horticultural produce face several challenges, including limited availability of high-quality seed and other inputs, traditional farming methods and technologies, limited skills and capacity in good agricultural practices, inadequate extension services, and excessive use of agro-chemicals to boost production.
Access to suitable infrastructure, such as storage facilities and transportation networks is a challenge for vegetable buyers and sellers, particularly in rural areas. This leads to high post-harvest losses, reducing the overall income for farmers and increasing prices for consumers.
Limited compliance to the safety regulations by vegetables market actors compromise the quality of the produce. Ensuring consistent compliance with safety regulations across the supply chain is critical for maintaining the quality and safety of vegetables, protecting public health, and fostering a more reliable and efficient market system
In partnership with Rikolto, Kilimo Trust and ADECOR, the project ensures adoption of regenerative and climate resilient production practices, with emphasis on vegetables. It also aims at structuring an inclusive urban food market by providing support in the development of national guidance on HSN diets in the cities and creating an enabling environment through advocacy and facilitating urban food governance processes.
Rikolto works towards a sustainable income for farmers and nutritious, affordable food for everyone by building bridges between smallholder farmer organizations, companies, local authorities, and other actors across rural and urban areas. With inclusive business facilitation as its focus, Rikolto and its partners strive to develop innovative ways of accessing, distributing, and producing nutritious, quality food, so no one is left behind.
The project will professionalize farmer cooperatives and other business development service providers to increase vegetables production, postharvest handling, and marketing. We will promote adoption of regenerative and resilient production practices such as minimum tillage, mulching, crop rotation and use of compost. In addition, the capacity of smallholder farmers will be built on Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) of vegetables by focusing on Integrated Pest and Diseases Management (IPM),Integrated Soil and Fertility Management (ISFM).
We will establish demonstrationsites for regenerative and resilient production practices, and kitchen gardensfor improving nutrition. This will help to increase access to fresh, diverse, organic andnutrient-rich vegetables to promote healthy eating habits. Additionally, wewill introduce compost pits for enriching soil nutrient, soil structureimprovement, microbial activity boost, and waste recycling. The most importantapproach is to introduce carbon sequestration to build healthy, resilient soilsand reduce atmospheric carbon dioxide levels.
The FSC-project will contribute to a 20% increase in incomes and job creation for 2,000 smallholder producers of health, sustainable, and nutritious (HSN) foods in Rubavu District. This will be achieved through establishment of 4 operational commercial production enterprises and expand structured trade of 5,000 MT (1,000 MT annually) of HSN foods (especially vegetables) in response to specific market demands.
Specifically, the project will establish trading agribusiness linkages consisting of all the necessary and sufficient agribusiness actors, undertake capacity building (practical hands in the field through demonstration plots andpromotion of the appropriate practices) for value chain actors on regenerative agriculture practices, improve aggregation, post-harvest handling and qualityassurance in response to the segmented market, and strengthen market platforms.
Under its pillar III of creating an enabling environment, the project will develop a “a Nutrition Awareness Communication Strategy”. The Strategy adopts a lifecycle approach prioritizing early childhood development, school-going children, youth and adolescents. It also accentuates the importance of leadership and appropriate governance for achieving optimal food security and enhanced nutritional status for all Rwandans.
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