INES-Ruhengeri Launches Second Phase of Project to Help Farmers Avoid Losses

On November 8, 2024, INES-Ruhengeri hosted the official launch of Phase 2 of the Farm to Fork Supply Chain and Ecosystem Project in Rwanda (#F2FinRW 2). This initiative aims to reduce losses that farmers face due to poor seed quality and limited market access.

The project’s initiator and coordinator, Prof. Kamana Emmanuel, a lecturer at INES-Ruhengeri with a specialization in Chemical Engineering/Applied Chemistry, expressed his commitment to supporting farmers through innovation. “We are dedicated to contributing to climate change solutions and empowering farmers with high-quality seeds and advanced farming techniques using chemical sciences and IoT technology. We are grateful to the farmers and partners who collaborate with us,” Prof. Kamana stated.

Prof. Kamana highlighted the significance of sustainable agriculture for Rwanda, where approximately 70% of the population relies on farming, contributing about 33% to the country’s economy. The project aligns with Rwanda's commitment to reducing harmful emissions by 38% by 2030.

The launch event was met with enthusiasm, with participants gaining a deeper understanding of the project’s goals and outcomes from both Phase 1 and the current phase.

Some beneficiaries expressed their thoughts on the impact of Phase 1 and their expectations for Phase 2.

Mr. Isaac Nzabarinda, an entrepreneur specializing in potato seed production in a greenhouse, shared, “INES-Ruhengeri helped us implement sensor technology that monitors our crops and provides valuable data. This innovation has significantly improved our yield. They also introduced us to ways of selling our produce directly, which saves time and minimizes losses. The training and resources from this project have been crucial in moving us away from consistent losses.”

Mr. Pascal Twizerimana, an agronomist at Holland Greentech, a partner in the Farm to Fork project, noted the progress made through the project: “Before this project, farmers we worked with faced challenges in accessing high-quality seeds, understanding their soil's needs, and using weather data for better planning. The first phase equipped us with essential training and provided potato seeds to two cooperatives, which led to tangible improvements. In this second phase, we expect to access more quality seeds, so that more farmers can benefit.”

The project uses sensors to measure rainfall, wind, temperature, soil pH, and NPK levels in both open fields and greenhouses, transmitting the data to farmers’ mobile phones. This data enables farmers to make informed decisions that enhance productivity.

 The Vice-Chancellor of INES-Ruhengeri Fr. Dr. BARIBESHYA Jean Bosco, who officially opened and closed the event, expressed his satisfaction with the project’s impact on farmers. He emphasized that the initiative exemplifies the university’s mission of applying scientific knowledge to address community challenges.

The project, originally launched on March 18, 2023, is funded by the Research and Innovation Systems for Africa (RISA) through UK-Chemonics. It aims to improve productivity, sustainability, and market access for Rwandan farmers. The objective of Phase 2 (November 2024 - February 2024) is to enhance livelihoods through inclusive, high-quality food production and efficient, sustainable farm-to-market solutions.