It is a sunny day in Mugesera Sector, Ngoma District, where farmers are sorting tonnes of pineapple produce ready for transport to Kigali.

Among them is Alex Muzerwa, a pineapple farmer and cooperative leader of KOABANAMU. Muzerwa, along with over 1,900 farmers in the cooperative, now supply a larger quantity of high-quality pineapples to markets in Kigali, boosting both their income and the local economy.

This success is attributed to land consolidation and modern farming techniques, which have allowed efficient land utilization and increased production capacity.

"We had a great season this year, thanks to favorable weather, a common understanding of land usage, and modern pineapple farming techniques acquired from district training. We now sell over 60 tonnes every two weeks to Inyange Industries, not counting local consumption.

The produce comes from over 2,500 hectares of consolidated land. Farmers, including myself, have made a fortune from growing pineapples. I upgraded my house to 120 iron sheets, purchased a new motorcycle, and pay school fees for my children on time," said Alex Muzerwa.

ALSO READ: Revamped Ferry Improves Transport Across Lake Mugesera, Cuts Pineapple Post-Harvest Losses

Upon reaching Mugesera, Zaza, and Sake areas, the sweet smell of ripe pineapples fills the air. Bicycles carrying pineapples to trading centers pass by, motorcycles loaded with crates of pineapples zoom past, and fields with vibrant green leaves of pineapple plants stretch as far as the shores of Lake Mugesera.

According to Cyriaque Mapambano, Ngoma District Vice Mayor in charge of economic development, pineapples are cultivated on over 4,800 hectares, yielding over 18,000 tonnes of produce annually.

Realizing that pineapples are drought-resistant, require low investment, and bring higher income compared to other crops, Ildephonce Ntigurirwa ventured into pineapple farming and has since seen great success.

"My family has been able to overcome poverty and increase the size of our farm because we grow pineapples. Pineapple prices and productivity are steady this year, indicating a bumper crop. We plan to buy extra land soon to grow our pineapple output and boost income. I tried once and decided to shift from growing other crops," he said.

Given the farmers&039; success with pineapple farming, their zeal to invest in the business, and the favorable soil texture in the area that allows the qualitative growth of organic pineapples, Cyriaque Mapambano said the district has taken steps to add value to pineapples.

"There is a processing plant in Mugesera in the final phase of testing products derived from pineapples. Partners told us they will be able to receive tonnes of pineapples daily, and adding value to the produce will increase farmers' profits and consumption," he explained.

ALSO READ: The Power of Pineapple

Farmers also managed to contribute Rwf 30 million towards purchasing a truck to transport their produce to the market, with the other half funded by the district through the Commercialization and De-Risking for Agricultural Transformation Project (CDAT), a Ministry of Agriculture project that supports private actors throughout the agricultural value chain.

Despite notable progress in the pineapple industry, challenges remain, such as access to loans and the need for better pineapple seedlings to replace old ones, according to Alex Muzerwa.

"It takes 18 months to harvest pineapples, yet you start paying the loan the next month from the date you requested it. Sometimes the loan and its interest mature when a farmer is still in the plowing process. If banks allow pineapple farmers to start paying when the harvest is ready, it would help avoid falling into debt," he said.

Muzerwa also said that current pineapple seedlings are not as resistant as they used to be because they are aging. He believes investing in research and development for better pineapple seedlings could greatly benefit the industry and improve pineapple productivity.

In response, Cyriaque Mapambano said the district contacted the Rwanda Agricultural Board, and research on suitable pineapple seeds is progressing well. He urged farmers to use organic manure in the meantime until new and improved pineapple seedlings are available.

A well-grown pineapple, according to farmers, weighs between five and seven kilograms for first-quality produce, while second-quality produce ranges between three and five kilograms. Prices range from Rwf 500 to Rwf 800, but may increase as the produce approaches the end of the harvest time.