The ongoing 10th agriculture expo at Mulindi, a Kigali City surbub, has attracted 205 exhibitors, including international agriculturalists from Kenya, China, The Neitherlands, and Germany, among others.

Organised under the theme ‘Agriculture Financing for Shared Prosperity,’ the expo is grouped into three categories: livestock, mechanisation and showcase.

‘‘It’s all about agriculture but we are mainly focusing on farming in general, post-harvest and agro processing,” Nobert Sendege, the officer in charge of crop production at the Ministry of Agriculture said.

As is usually the case, there is always something new at this expo.

The most notable this year is the iron-rich beans, being showcased by Harvest Plus, an international group that works in partnership with Rwanda Agriculture Board (RAB)- the beans can be ready for harvest between 109 to 110 days.

"These beans are bred by the [Agriculture] ministry,” explains David Kizza, an agronomist with Harvest Plus.

"Whereas 800 to 900 kilogrammess of normal beans can be harvested on a hectare, it’s different with our beans.”

He adds that for bush beans, 2.5 tonnes can be yielded on a hectare, while 3.5 tonnes can be harvested from the climbers. "One bush plant can have 35-60 pods,” he concludes.

The breeding of these beans is done in consideration of extensive droughts, disease tolerance and early maturity.

Another official at Harvest Plus, Laetitia Umulisa, says that these high iron beans that are high in iron can provide up to 40 per cent of the required iron ‘in our bodies’.

"Beans are a staple food that is eaten by over 90 per cent of Rwandans, so we believe this will be of relevance to almost everyone,” she says.

The Dutch embassy is also showcasing a Niade solar-powered water purifier that can be used in schools, hospitals, or anywhere where many people gather.

"Any water that is poured in here, however filthy, will come out clean for consumption, explains Sita, an embassy official. The purifier has the ability to purify 3000 litres every day.

Aknaw Yohannes works with Strawtec, a German company that manufactures stacker machines. "This machine is partly manufactured here,” he narrates. "After (Rwandan) farmers harvest wheat, we pick the stems and use them as raw materials to manufacture strawboard panels.” Strawboard panels are erected as walls in construction of houses.

Other exhibitors like Urwibutso Enterpri

ses: Sina Gerrard, are showcasing modern ways of how to grow pepper for making the popular Akabanga chili sauce.

"This expo has provided us with an opportunity to interact with farmers who will, eventually, be supplying us with raw materials (chili) for our products,” Djibril Shakur, an employee of the company told The New Times.

Call for more investment

Opening the expo earlier on Saturday, the state minister for Agriculture, Tony Nsanganira called on the Private Sector to invest more in the agricultural sector to further its development.

"As you know with the Second Economic Development and Poverty Reduction Strategy (EDPRS 2), emphasis was put on private investors as the lead in the country’s development; therefore, we call upon the same for the agricultural sector,” Nsanganira said.

He added that the government is ready to provide the necessary support to enhance the sector development. Agriculture as a sector plays a big role in the development of the country.

Innocent Musabyimana, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture, stressed the need to work with financial institutions to get the necessary funding.

Jean Claude Ruzibiza, an exhibitor at the poultry stand, and managing director of Rwanda Best Ltd based in Rulindo District, said participating in the expo would help them market their products better.

"We participate in the expo every year. This helps a lot in boosting business because it provides both sales and marketing platforms.

There are so many people who want to venture into the poultry business and we are more than glad to advise them.”

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