On Wednesday, September 18, 2024, staff members and cassava traders participated in a field visit to Rubavu and Rusizi Districts in the Western Province to learn about cassava cross-border trade. Following the visit, a debriefing meeting was held to share experiences and best practices.
During the meeting, participants discussed the potential to expand the cassava market beyond the borders of Rubavu and Rusizi. Several key recommendations were made:
- Cassava traders pledged to broaden their perspectives, recognizing the profitability of the business and committing to pursue it with a wider, cross-border approach.
- They also agreed to collaborate as a united team to achieve quicker financial returns, ensuring proper preparation of cassava, including drying, transportation, and quality control to make their products competitive in both domestic and international markets.
The traders expressed their gratitude to the Ingabo Farmers’ Syndicate for its ongoing efforts to promote the cassava value chain through training, study tours, and capacity-building initiatives.
Addressing the participants, Mrs. Césarie Kantarama, Chairperson of the Ingabo Farmers’ Syndicate, praised the field visit for inspiring new opportunities in cassava trading. She urged the traders to adopt a more professional approach, emphasizing the importance of joint planning and using measurable statistics.
She also encouraged cassava farmers and traders to focus on enhancing both the quality and quantity of their products, while working more closely with financial institutions to strengthen their businesses and meet the demands of both local and international markets.
