when 560 farmers of Rugarama in Gatsibo District came together to form a rice growing group, many wrote them off saying it was doomed to fail. However, the rice growers’ cooperative, commonly known as COPRORIZ Ntende, now boasts of a 40-room hotel and multipurpose commercial building in Gatsibo town, among other investments, thanks to member savings and profits from rice growing and trade.

Speaking at the inauguration of the Rwf300 million hotel recently, the State Minister for Agriculture, Fulgence Nsengiyumva, said cooperatives play an important role in the country’s development efforts by boosting investment in key sectors of the economy.

"Cooperatives were designed to start small and grow overtime to big business entities, supporting community development, job-creation for members and other citizens and increasing household incomes. This is why the government is committed to supporting cooperatives until they’re able to fully sustain themselves,” said Minister Nsengiyumva.

He called on Gatsibo residents to continue consolidating land for particular crop production, saying the practice was in line with government’s development strategies. COPRORIZ Ntende carries out its farming activities in Ntende marshland that was hitherto being used for growing yams until 2003 when it took it over for commercial rice farming.

"This marshland was once unproductive until you took it over and dedicated it to growing rice, a move that has proved that consolidated farming is beneficial,” he said.

Besides the 40 rooms of different categories, the coop’s hotel has conference facilities, a restaurant and bar, gardens and ample parking space.

Members speak out

The newly-elected president of COPRORIZ Ntende, Elyse Rugwizangoga, said the group’s success was built on transparency and accountability principles.

"The outgoing executive committee under Damascene Rwamwaga has been transparent and accountable to all the members. I pledge to continue implementing the good practices started by the old team to ensure sustainable growth and profitability of the co-operative and its businesses,” Rugwizangoga said.

Innocent Mbonigaba, one of the cooperative founders, said they first resisted to switch from yams to rice growing, adding that the rice was worth taking as it has helped prop up their fortunes.

Giving back to community

COPRORIZ Ntende is one of the successful cooperatives in the country, a situation that has enabled it to grow faster and engage in other income-generating projects. Presently, the coop gives Rwf30,000 ‘pension’ per season to its elderly and vulnerable members who can no longer manage to carry out cultivation.

Government support, achievements

In 2009, the Ministry of Agriculture under the rural sector support programme widened the marshland from 55 to 900 hectares after residents accepted to use it specifically for growing rice. Today, 3,571 people grow rice and earn Rwf300,000 each per season on average. Their dividend share rose from Rwf3,730 in 2003 to Rwf116,000 to date.

The cooperative has Rwf919.7 million worth of investments in hospitality and transport sectors.

The group’s production has increased from three tonnes per hectare, on average in 2010 to six tonnes, and it produces more than 10,000 tonnes of rice a year, according to officials.