Small-scale fruit processors have been challenged to ensure product quality to be competitive, especially in regional markets. 

This was during the training attended by 15 small-and-medium fruit processors (SMEs) aimed at improving their technical skills to enable them contribute to the realisation of the country’s development objectives under the second phase of the Economic Development and Poverty Reduction Strategy (EDPRS II). 

Speaking at the two-week training at the Masaka Incubation Centre in Kicukiro District Emmanuel Hategeka, the Ministry of Trade and Industry Permanent Secretary, urged the trainees to utilise the skills acquired to expand their enterprises and improve product quality.

The training was organised by the Ministry of Trade and Industry in partnership with Rwanda Development Board, the Association of Fruits, Wine and Juice Processors and Germany’s Senior Expert Service (SES).

SES’ Voelker Karl Helmut Harch and the training facilitator, said the skills acquired would enable the trainees to produce competitively and enhance their visibility, especially on the regional market.

Juvenal Ndayisenga, the processors’ association president, said the knowledge gained in the training would strengthen the capacity of SMEs.