From May 20–21, 2025, a two-day workshop on Enhancing the Cassava Value Chain in Rwanda was held at La Palisse Hotel in Nyamata, Bugesera District, Eastern Province. The event was organized by the Ingabo Farmers’ Syndicate in collaboration with various partners through the KUNGAHARA Project, funded by the European Union.

The workshop brought together key stakeholders in the agriculture sector, including representatives from government institutions, development organizations, research institutions, cassava brokers, processors, and farmers.

Participants discussed the challenges faced by cassava farmers and explored strategies to boost productivity using innovative methods such as the Zai Pit technique. This method enhances water retention, improves resilience to climate change, and enriches soil fertility. According to Mr. Thacien Ngumyembarebe, Coordinator of the Gwiza-Muhinzi Project, a single cassava cutting grown using the Zai Pit method can yield between 30–70 kg, translating to 50–70 tonnes per hectare. In contrast, traditional farming methods typically yield no more than 14 tonnes per hectare.

The Gwiza-Muhinzi Project is a three-year initiative implemented by the Ingabo Farmers’ Syndicate in partnership with the International Institute for Tropical Agriculture (IITA). The project aims to increase cassava productivity and utilization to combat food insecurity and improve the livelihoods of smallholder farmers. Its core objectives include:

• Boosting cassava productivity through improved agricultural practices, especially among women and young farmers
• Scaling up innovations that add value to cassava roots and peelsStrengthening the cassava sub-sector across the country

In his address to the workshop participants, the Mayor of Bugesera District, Mr. Richard Mutabazi, thanked the Ingabo Farmers’ Syndicate for selecting Bugesera to host the event. He also acknowledged the Syndicate’s continued support for cassava farmers through the KUNGAHARA Project, emphasizing the district’s role as a key cassava-producing region in Rwanda.

Mr. François Xavier Mbabazi, Chief Executive Officer of the Ingabo Farmers’ Syndicate, expressed his gratitude to all participants and partners for their ongoing commitment to promoting cassava farming and value addition in Rwanda.

Mrs. Césarie Kantarama, Chairperson of the Ingabo Farmers’ Syndicate, welcomed the collaborative spirit of the workshop. She praised the joint efforts of stakeholders across the cassava value chain and urged participants to implement the resolutions to be adopted at the close of the workshop.

The Deputy Director General for Agricultural Development at the Rwanda Agriculture and Animal Resources Development Board (RAB) emphasized that the goal of the workshop was to identify key challenges within the cassava value chain and to develop strategies for improving cassava productivity, not only for household consumption but also as a sustainable source of income.