The cultivation of vegetables and fruits continues to grow in Rwanda, yielding significant benefits for those involved, while also bringing foreign currency into the country. Anyone who desires to live well and eat a balanced diet can do so voluntarily by growing vegetables and fruits, which helps improve their livelihoods and reduce the issue of malnutrition.
Prudence Sendarase, a resident of Nyanza District, owns a 15-hectare farm where he grows mango and avocado trees. This farmer explains that she chose to cultivate mangoes to provide fruit to the Rwandan market while also expanding her wealth. he stated, “I started with small-scale farming, but I have grown, and now I harvest a good yield. I encourage everyone to plant at least one fruit tree because it will help us eradicate child stunting and also contribute to our economic development.”
Prudence advises farmers to approach agricultural advisors to help them combat pests early, which could result in increased yields. Currently, she has five hectares of mangoes and seven hectares of avocados.
Meanwhile, Uwamwezi Gloriose, an avocado farmer in Huye District, says that the income from her avocado farm has helped her pay for her children’s education and has enabled her to provide neighbors with trees to plant. She said, “Each avocado season, I earn four million Rwandan Francs. I have also added three more hectares to my farming land without taking out a bank loan.”
Nsengimana Vianney, one of those helped by Uwamwezi, says he can now access avocados for food and was given a cow for farming, which has transformed his life.
The State Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources, Rwigamba Eric, has called on every citizen to plant fruit trees everywhere, whether in their homes, along roads, or in schools, to reduce malnutrition in the country. He stated, “It does not require significant resources, just understanding and giving it importance.”
During the month dedicated to food, MINAGRI plans activities such as planting fruit trees in schools, distributing chickens to combat malnutrition, and providing cows to help farmers and livestock keepers with access to milk and manure for fertilizing crops.
