They cracked jokes as they made leisurely rides in their compound using wheelchairs. And when I turned up at their home, the reception was warm and welcoming.

This was my first encounter with Gayitan Kayitare and Adolph Sacyindi, disabled liberation ex-soldiers under Impuhwe Co-operative of disabled ex-combatants formed to fight poverty among members through agriculture.

Under the leadership of Kayitare and Sacyindi, the co-operative was recently recognised by Kicukiro District for its work in empowering members and farmers generallyUnder the leadership of Kayitare and Sacyindi, the co-operative was recently recognised by Kicukiro District as top model farmers.

The duo was in high spirits as I conducted the interview and they took me around their gardens. 

"Our disability has limited our mobility to some extent…However, we have refused to let our fragile legs limit our innovation and dreams,” says Kayitare, 51, who is the vice-president of Impuhwe Co-operative, which operates in Nyarugunga sector.

The co-operative is made up of 52 ex-combatants, including two women.

The group says they are determined to uplift their standards of living, inspired by their heroic deeds during the liberation struggle.

"Our dreams have kept us strong, with a positive attitude towards life and progress, and our ideas have laid an unshakeable foundation for the future,” he says.

The disabled ex-combatants grow vegetables such as cabbages, tomatoes, onions, green paper, among others, under greenhouses. Their success in adopting modern farming methods could explains why they were recognised by Kicukiro District.

"Initially, we were practicing agriculture using traditional methods.

"We also didn’t use any modern farming practices, our farming projects were always exposed to vagaries of weather and diseases, affecting output and quality,” says Kayitare.

He adds that the unfavourable weather conditions, not only destroyed their investments, but almost forced them to abandon agriculture altogether.

Sacyindi, 52, who is the co-operative group secretary, notes that they often suffered losses during heavy rains and dry spells.

"The high cost of production was another challenge we encountered in the initial stages of the project, which greatly affected our earnings, making it hard for the co-operative to operate sustainably,” he explains.

Turning point

When all seemed lost and the ex-soldiers were about to throw in the towel, World Vision, came to their rescue.

The NGO donated three greenhouses to the group, and trained them in modern farming methods under its economic empowerment strategy. This marked the turning point for the co-operative as it started on the road that has seen it become a symbol of success.

"With the greenhouses, we started a new phase for the project, making it more productive and profitable, which has improved our well-being,” Kayitare says.

"We are now able to produce vegetables all year round, which has increased returns. We have also been able to reduce the cost of production since greenhouses require a small piece of land,” Kayitare explains.

Frank Muhwezi, the Word Vision central zone manager, says the firm seeks to empower communities so that they improve the standards of living and those of their families.

"World Vision donated greenhouses to the ex-combatants and trained them in modern farming methods to ensure they get a sustainable source of income to become self-reliant,” he adds.

"We are glad our efforts were not in vain as the ex-soldiers are now able to cater for their families’ needs and contribute to the development of the country,” Muhwezi points out.

Market

The co-operative has secured market for their produce in different Kigali supermarkets, including Floreb, Simba and Nakumatt.

Sacyindi says they produce 120 kilogrammes of tomatoes every week worth Rwf72,000 weekly or Rwf288,000 monthly. A kilogramme of tomatoes is sold at Rwf500.

Diversification

Kayitare says the co-operative has diversified and invested in dairy farming. The group so far has 26 dairy cows. Kayitare points out that they get Rwf286,000 from milk sales per month, which has improved their returns.

The co-operative also owns a canteen and 25 rabbits, from which they earn Rwf100,000 monthly.

Kayitare says the projects have laid a firm foundation for the group, adding that they would start new projects in the near future.

Kayitare attributes the co-operative’s success to intervention of Word Vision, a development-oriented NGO, that he says opened new opportunities for them.

"World Vision has done a lot, not only in agriculture,but also in empowering us in different ways so that our standards of living are uplifted; we have received several trainings on how to develop our lives both financially and socially.

"More so, to enable us follow up our activities, they provided us with modern wheelchairs to facilitate our movements. That has been a huge support that we will forever appreciate,” he says.

Benefits to the members

Kayitare points out that they plough back some of profits into the project, and invest some in new enterprises to increase returns.

"Some of the money we get is used to buy fertilisers, containers and other modern equipment; the balance is shared among members,” he says.

Sacyindi says their families’ health has improved and malnutrition is a thing of the past, thanks to vegetables and the milk the group produces.

As a way of giving back to the community, the co-operative established a canteen, where people around the community access fresh greens and milk.

To ensure accountability, all the group’s income-generating activities have separate bank accounts "so that we measure the productivity of each activity and the growth of every investment”.

Sacyindi says joining the co-operative has enabled him and other ex-combatants to enhance earnings and their family’s standards of living. He notes that members’ savings have grown since they contribute to the co-operative savings basket every month.

He adds that the co-operative members can now pay school fees for their children and medical insurance with ease.

"Our children are proud that their parents have something to do even though they’re disabled. They feel we’re still important and capable of great things despite our disability... That is what brings us joy and keeps us going,” says Sacyindi.

Kayitare says the other source of happiness is that they are able to contribute national development.

"We are happy that we’re also contributing to the development of the country, despite our disabilities,” he states.

The co-operative employs three permanent workers, but hires more people on temporary basis during harvest season. "This way, we also create jobs for young Rwandans,” Sacyindi says.

Future Plans

Kayitare says they plan to intensify modern farming to increase production and returns.

"We are going to buy more modern equipment and greenhouses to be able to grow more crops to satisfy the market throughout the year.

With increased production, we also hope to find better market for our produce,” he says.

"This will enable the co-operative to invest in other economic ventures to widen income streams and, hence further improve members’ earnings.”

Advice

Kayitare advises fellow Rwandans, especially those who are living with disability, never to let go of their dreams.

"Let those dreams be the legs you lost to liberate motherland; let them take you wherever you want to go,” he counsels.

"Working with other people of common interests and aspirations is a huge stepping stone toward self-reliance and economic independence, thus the importance of joining co-operatives cannot be underestimated,” he says.

Co-operatives allow members to be economically independent, and they are also good vehicles to reduce poverty among the population, let’s embrace them.

"Remember, never limit your destiny to the level of your mobility; you can still work and improve your living standards whatever your condition.”