This initiative aims to develop a sector that employs over 400,000 Rwandans, with 69% of households in Rwanda relying on agriculture for their livelihoods.

The program focuses on increasing and processing the production of tea, vegetables, and fruits, particularly avocado and pepper, expanding and processing potatoes, boosting poultry and pig production, and increasing beef production.

Investors were introduced to the opportunities to promote a revolution in agriculture, increase production, create jobs for women and youth, expand irrigated land, and develop modern agricultural systems.

The program is linked to a five-year strategy to accelerate agricultural development (PSTA 5), which will cost Frw 7.063 billion.

Regarding tea production, MINAGRI has announced a need for an investment of $289 million to help process and develop tea-growing regions.

At least 300 million tea seedlings are required, and tea farming will be expanded to 17,000 hectares, along with building a tea processing factory in the Nyamagabe District, a region known for tea cultivation.

The tea development project must also be accompanied by road construction for better access to the farms.

The investment will benefit over 85,000 people, with production expected to rise from the 39,008,978 kilograms Rwanda harvested in 2022/2023, yielding $107 million.

Regarding animal husbandry, MINAGRI sees investment opportunities of $169.8 million, primarily in increasing poultry and pig production to boost meat and egg output.

Plans include establishing modern poultry farms, animal feed mills, modern livestock pens, and storage for animal feed, benefiting over 123,000 people and 69,953 poultry and pig farmers.

For expanding and processing potato production, Rwanda requires $63.8 million to expand farming areas and add processing facilities to meet both local and international market demands.

The project will include developing virus-free potato varieties, creating certified storage facilities, and building modern potato processing plants. Over 41,000 potato farmers and processors, along with 245,000 others in the value chain, are expected to benefit directly.

This initiative aims to address gaps in potato farming, as Rwanda currently needs 1.5 million tons annually, while it harvests 865,000 tons per year.

In terms of vegetables and fruits, particularly avocados and peppers, Rwanda requires an investment of $222.3 million, including $40.5 million for avocado farming and $181.8 million for pepper production.

Although exporting peppers and avocados internationally is a recent development for Rwanda, it has made significant progress in the past decade. In 2022/2023, Rwanda exported 3,200 tons of avocados, earning $6.5 million, compared to $440,000 from 10 years prior. The goal is to export over 14,000 tons of avocados in the next five years.

Pepper also plays a significant role in Rwanda’s exports, particularly to Asia and Europe. In 2022/2023, Rwanda exported 2,000 tons of pepper, generating $6 million, and the target is to increase exports to $48 million by 2029 through PSTA 5.

Rwanda also requires $40.2 million to improve cattle farming for meat production.

The government has selected the Gako and Gabiro areas as suitable locations for this investment, with plans to establish a modern slaughterhouse, leather processing facilities, and a system to provide livestock feed, among other developments.

An investment of $289 million is needed to develop tea farming in Rwanda.

Rwanda has a growing market for pepper in Asia, especially in China and European countries.

Rwanda needs $63.8 million to invest in potato farming.

Rwanda indicates that it needs an investment of $222.3 million to develop vegetable and fruit farming, particularly avocados and pepper.