The Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Resources said it will raise funds to cover the victims of CVD-19.
According to State Minister for Agriculture and Livestock Jean-Christostom Ngabisinze, in a study conducted in June and August this year, urban women in fruits and vegetables were severely affected by CV-19 and needed support to recover.
“After the study, we are going to raise funds to support women. Lack of proper storage, handling and refrigeration facilities is one of the main disadvantages of decaying fruits and vegetables; He said.
Women in urban areas also said they could support the exploitation of farmland.
“There are wetlands in the cities. We are conducting a study with the Rwandan Regional Administration in Kigali because some wetlands that were once contaminated need to be rehabilitated. The women can be organized in cooperatives and invest in horticulture among these farmers, ”he said.
Sandrin Irakoze, a salesman at the Niagara Falls market, told him The New Times During the lockout, there was a decrease in the number of customers and a significant loss of working hours.
“Due to the shortage of customers, the fruits rot. I used to sell 30 pounds[30 kg]of fruit in one day, but the same amount can take up to a whole week, which can be detrimental. We don’t have facilities to store the fruit for a long time without damaging it and this is where we need financial support. ”
The problems were addressed in collaboration with the Catholic Relief Services (CRS), an “assessment of factors affecting urban women horticultural entrepreneurs” to stimulate the development of the horticultural value chain in Rwanda.
According to a survey of 446 urban women traders in the main markets of Kigali, Ramawana and Ruba Vu woredas, the main challenges are CVD-19 results, access to storage facilities, limited access to commercial finance, goods affected, high market prices, tax prices, limited Business skills and sufficient capital.
Challenges include low market prices, transportation costs, tax rates and more.
The study recommends a program to strengthen the use of women in urban horticulture, business skills, soft skills, and technology platforms in commercial networks.
From agriculture to market, fruit and vegetable development infrastructure, post-harvest storage and ECD. There is a need for centers, and it is recommended to add a product and marketing model so that women can take advantage of the opportunity to increase their value.
Urban women entrepreneurs also want financial support and access to regular financial services based on the recommendations.
Rwf977.9 million in financial support
As a result of the study, a five-year program worth Rwf 977.9 million has been developed to help urban women fruit and vegetable growers recover from CVD-19 results.
According to Jude-Maria Banate, Representative of the Catholic Relief Services (CRS), an action plan is needed to implement the agreement.
We need to work with other organizations that contribute to this value chain. The plan is feasible. The study offers good opportunities to improve access to finance, infrastructure, women’s livelihoods and improve the value chain. ”
Pascal Nengendahima, manager of the Economic Development Division of the Local Government Development Agency (LODO), said the government also plans to provide loans to women and youth at a 2 percent interest rate.
Minister of Family and Gender Promotion, Genete Bysenge, said women should be supported to adopt digital devices by selling their fruits and vegetables as part of the electronics business.
Rwanda exported 31,788 tons of fruits and vegetables (fruits, vegetables and flowers) in the 2019/20 fiscal year, according to data from the National Agricultural Export Development Board (NAEB) of $ 28.7 million (about $ 27 billion).
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