Rwandan exporters of fruits and vegetables now have renewed confidence in preserving their produce, thanks to nine refrigerated trucks granted to them. These trucks, provided to exporters, are expected to enhance the quality of Rwanda’s exports to international markets.
The trucks, distributed on Wednesday, November 6, 2024, address previous challenges with maintaining freshness, as some exported fruits and vegetables would spoil before reaching markets due to inadequate cooling systems.
These refrigerated trucks were provided through a partnership with the Feed the Future-Kungahara Wagura Amasoko project, funded by USAID, and Rwanda’s National Agricultural Export Development Board (NAEB). The project is structured in a way that exporters cover 40% of the truck costs, while the Feed the Future project subsidizes the remaining 60%.
NAEB’s CEO, Bizimana Claude, emphasized that these trucks aim to solve the critical issue of keeping produce adequately cooled for safe delivery to markets. “We have long faced challenges with maintaining our produce from the farms all the way to international markets,” he noted.
Keisha Effiom, Director of USAID in Rwanda, praised the initiative, saying, “Today, we celebrate the provision of nine trucks that will allow exporters to reach international markets with confidence that their goods will stay fresh.” She added that the United States remains committed to supporting Rwanda’s economic growth for continued progress.
The project’s impact is expected to go further, with plans to provide four additional trucks in the near future, bringing the total cost to RWF 829 million, with exporters contributing 40%.
Over the past five years, Rwanda’s exports of fruits, vegetables, and flowers have generated more than $233 million. These earnings play a significant role in bolstering the nation’s economy and empowering businesses committed to maintaining high-quality exports.
This initiative aims to promote the development of Rwanda’s export sector, providing assurance that the country can consistently deliver fresh and quality goods to international markets.
