Up to one million rural households in Rwanda are estimated to grow horticultural crops (vegetables, fruits and flowers), mainly for domestic use and local sales. The Government of Rwanda has developed an ambitious national policy and strategic plan aimed at the development of the country’s horticultural sector. The overall aim of these policies and plans is to enhance the sector’s contribution toward economic growth and to reduce poverty and malnutrition. These aims are aligned with the Rwandan Economic Development and Poverty Reduction Strategy (2013-2018) and the Dutch Government’s development cooperation policy objectives related to Food Security.

SNV, in partnership with Agriterra, Holland Greentech, IDH Sustainable Trade Initiative and CDI Wageningen, will implement the HortInvest Rwanda project from 2017 to 2022. Funding for this project comes from the Netherlands Embassy in Kigali. The project budget is €16.2 million, with an additional minimum of € 5.0 million co-funding by private sector partners in the project. The project will reach at least 44,000 farmer households in six districts in North-West Rwanda.

The HortInvest project aims to increase farmers’ incomes, grow the relative contribution of the horticultural sector to the regional economy in North West Rwanda, and improve the food and nutrition security of the targeted households. HortInvest will help realise the Rwandan National Horticulture Policy to create fast economic growth and reduce poverty and malnutrition. The project covers six target districts in North-west Rwanda.

HortInvest has four components, aligned with Rwanda’s National Horticultural Policy:

1. Production for domestic and regional markets

2. Food & Nutrition security improvement

3. Supply chains for export markets

4. Strengthening the enabling environment

The HortInvest project will focus on supporting horticulture growers, their producer organisations and private sector partners. The project will provide support and training on Good Agricultural Practices and IPM, value addition, market demand, services and inclusive growth of specific horticultural value chains (fruits, incl. bananas & vegetables). Production and supply improvements for both domestic and regional fresh produce markets as well as the more high-value export markets will be covered.

Whilst market-driven production and supply will be supported by HortInvest, the importance of fruit and vegetable consumption within the farm household will not be ignored. Particularly the most vulnerable farm households and the more remote villages will be targeted with nutritional awareness. The enabling environment will be strengthened, further improving the institutional arrangements and supporting policy implementation, facilitating public-private collaboration and consultation, and improving the capacities of both public and private horticultural actors. Cross-cutting issues that will be addressed as part of all project activities include gender equality, employment and income opportunities for rural youth, and the promotion of sustainable and climate resilient horticultural production and supply systems.

Objectives

• Professionalise horticulture production for domestic and regional markets

• Increase food and nutrition security of targeted households

• Create value chains for export markets