A woman packs French beans in NAEB's pack house. Such facilities have helped boost exports. (File)
Horticulture sector
stakeholders should embrace international standards and ensure quality
along the value chain to boost exports into European markets, experts
have said. The Dutch and UK experts added that Rwanda can only be able
to increase its exports to Europe if farmers and exporters ensure
quality along value chain and also add value to horticulture produce.
In addition, there is need to increase the sector’s production capacity so as to ensure sustainable supply to meet this growing demand in Europe, said Dolar Amarshi Popat, the UK’s trade envoy to Rwanda and Uganda.
Popat, who was speaking during the horticulture connect summit in Kigali yesterday, added that more investors from the United Kingdom and the Netherlands were interested in investing more resources toward the development of Rwanda’s and regional horticulture sector.
“The investors are being driven by Rwanda’s horticulture potential and the ease of doing business in the country,” Popat told The New Times.
The summit, organised by the National Agriculture Export Board (NAEB), attracted more than 200 trade experts, investors and exporters to deliberate on strategies that could help improve Rwanda’s horticulture business and make it more competitive and profitable. We will facilitate our companies to come and invest here, the envoy added, saying that it is imperative for Rwanda to establish more trade links with the UK as a “gate way for its exports entering into the European markets.
Embrace technology
Roland Waardenburg, the founding partner of INCLSVE, urged farmers to embrace new technologies to increase production, adding that exporters need to align their businesses with customer needs to grow their market share.
Exporters must always adhere to standards and safety rules and procedures, as well as product pricing guidelines and ensure that “they export the right products at the right time to benefit from the EU market”.
Sebastiaan Hoogendoorn, the Royal FloraHolland commercial manager for East Africa, urged local sector players to establish trade partnerships with their European counterparts to be able to grow their market in Europe.
Rwanda is counting on the horticulture industry to boost its export volumes and earnings in the short to medium-term.
Market linkages key
Speaking at the summit, Claire Akamanzi, the Rwanda Development Board (RDB) chief, said that Europe has become an important source of investment to Rwanda with investments growing from about $396 million to $1.9 billion over the past five years. “It is, therefore, important to create those connections to help spur trade between Rwanda and our European partners,” Akamanzi noted.
Meanwhile, Amb George William Kayonga, the NAEB chief executive officer, said the local horticulture sector has recorded remarkable growth in recent years and contributed $21 million (about Rwf18 billion) export revenue in 2017 to national coffers.
Rwanda’s horticulture produce mainly constitutes of vegetables, fruits and flower exports. However, the sector was almost non-existent five years ago. Kayonga attributed this growth to support given to farmers and exporters, including putting in place proper produce handling facilities like the NAEB “pack house” that have helped improve post-harvest handling and efficient export processes for flowers, fruits and fresh vegetables.
Equally, the three weekly direct flights between Kigali, Gatwick-London and Brussels operated by RwandAir have greatly boosted the sector, he added.
RwandAir ferries about 25 tonnes of horticulture produce to Europe per flight, which has boosted the sector’s competitiveness and profitability, according to NAEB.
Supporting sector growth
The UK is supporting the sector through the £23.5 million (about Rwf24 billion) “Improving Market Systems for Agriculture in Rwanda” programme, which is expected to expand horticultural trade in local, regional and overseas market.
Also, the five-year HortInvest Rwanda project that is supported by the Dutch government with €16.2 million funding is expected to reach 44,000 farmer households in six districts, especially in north west Rwanda.
It is such initiatives and government support that have enabled the sector to grow steadily and increase export earnings. The horticulture connect conference provided stakeholders another opportunity to enhance horticultural trade between Europe and Rwanda.
Kayonga was optimistic that more European horticulture importers would sign supply agreements and establish long-term partnerships with Rwandan exporters.
In addition, there is need to increase the sector’s production capacity so as to ensure sustainable supply to meet this growing demand in Europe, said Dolar Amarshi Popat, the UK’s trade envoy to Rwanda and Uganda.
Popat, who was speaking during the horticulture connect summit in Kigali yesterday, added that more investors from the United Kingdom and the Netherlands were interested in investing more resources toward the development of Rwanda’s and regional horticulture sector.
“The investors are being driven by Rwanda’s horticulture potential and the ease of doing business in the country,” Popat told The New Times.
The summit, organised by the National Agriculture Export Board (NAEB), attracted more than 200 trade experts, investors and exporters to deliberate on strategies that could help improve Rwanda’s horticulture business and make it more competitive and profitable. We will facilitate our companies to come and invest here, the envoy added, saying that it is imperative for Rwanda to establish more trade links with the UK as a “gate way for its exports entering into the European markets.
Embrace technology
Roland Waardenburg, the founding partner of INCLSVE, urged farmers to embrace new technologies to increase production, adding that exporters need to align their businesses with customer needs to grow their market share.
Exporters must always adhere to standards and safety rules and procedures, as well as product pricing guidelines and ensure that “they export the right products at the right time to benefit from the EU market”.
Sebastiaan Hoogendoorn, the Royal FloraHolland commercial manager for East Africa, urged local sector players to establish trade partnerships with their European counterparts to be able to grow their market in Europe.
Rwanda is counting on the horticulture industry to boost its export volumes and earnings in the short to medium-term.
RDB chief Akamanzi speaks at the event
yesterday. She called for more partnerships between Rwanda and Europe to
spur trade. (Timothy Kisambira)
Speaking at the summit, Claire Akamanzi, the Rwanda Development Board (RDB) chief, said that Europe has become an important source of investment to Rwanda with investments growing from about $396 million to $1.9 billion over the past five years. “It is, therefore, important to create those connections to help spur trade between Rwanda and our European partners,” Akamanzi noted.
Meanwhile, Amb George William Kayonga, the NAEB chief executive officer, said the local horticulture sector has recorded remarkable growth in recent years and contributed $21 million (about Rwf18 billion) export revenue in 2017 to national coffers.
Rwanda’s horticulture produce mainly constitutes of vegetables, fruits and flower exports. However, the sector was almost non-existent five years ago. Kayonga attributed this growth to support given to farmers and exporters, including putting in place proper produce handling facilities like the NAEB “pack house” that have helped improve post-harvest handling and efficient export processes for flowers, fruits and fresh vegetables.
Equally, the three weekly direct flights between Kigali, Gatwick-London and Brussels operated by RwandAir have greatly boosted the sector, he added.
RwandAir ferries about 25 tonnes of horticulture produce to Europe per flight, which has boosted the sector’s competitiveness and profitability, according to NAEB.
Supporting sector growth
The UK is supporting the sector through the £23.5 million (about Rwf24 billion) “Improving Market Systems for Agriculture in Rwanda” programme, which is expected to expand horticultural trade in local, regional and overseas market.
Also, the five-year HortInvest Rwanda project that is supported by the Dutch government with €16.2 million funding is expected to reach 44,000 farmer households in six districts, especially in north west Rwanda.
It is such initiatives and government support that have enabled the sector to grow steadily and increase export earnings. The horticulture connect conference provided stakeholders another opportunity to enhance horticultural trade between Europe and Rwanda.
Kayonga was optimistic that more European horticulture importers would sign supply agreements and establish long-term partnerships with Rwandan exporters.
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