Rwandan officials overseeing agriculture are working to reduce post-harvest losses in the country’s maize value chain by improving storage and drying facilities as well as connecting farmers to reliable markets.

Slightly over 500,000 metric tons of maize are produced in the country, every year, as per latest figures from the ministry of agriculture. Nyagatare District is the country's leading maize-producing region, with about 132,000 tonnes this year. However, farmers in the district last month told The New Times that a significant portion of their harvest this season might be at risk of perishing due to inadequate storage facilities.

Gilbert Rwagange, the Rwanda Agriculture Board (RAB) Station Manager of Ngoma District, highlighted the preparations for 2025 Season A – September to February – maize crop harvest, stating that the focus is on identifying potential areas for high production and mobilising resources to address existing gaps in the harvesting and drying processes.

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"We have already identified potential production areas and prepared support materials such as mechanical dryers. However, infrastructure remains insufficient. As such, we are working with farmers to construct temporary drying shelters,” said Rwagange.

"Rwanda currently has 52 mobile dryers countrywide, with 24 of these managed by RAB. A single mobile dryer can dry up to 30 tons of maize per day, operating three cycles of three hours each. These mobile dryers play a critical role in speeding up the drying process, ensuring crops are market-ready.”

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Recognising that existing drying facilities are inadequate; authorities are working with farmers to mobilise resources for temporary drying solutions. Farmers are encouraged to invest in constructing shelters, while partial support is provided through materials such as tarpaulins.

"Extension models are being employed to train and coach farmers on preparing necessary equipment for the harvest season by equipping farmers with the knowledge and tools they need to ensure a smooth harvesting process,” said Rwagange.

Vision Storage Facility, a women-led company dedicated to advancing agricultural investment and storage solutions, in Kiramuruzi Sector, Gatsibo District, is equipping farmers with drying and storage infrastructure.

"We work with over 50 cooperatives, each comprising hundreds of members, as well as individual farmers. Last season, we successfully processed 9,000 tonnes of maize without any issues of rot no matter how long they were kept,” said Emmanuel Twahirwa, the Manager of Vision Storage Facility.

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"Our advanced drying and storage systems play a key role in preserving the quality and value of maize. By ensuring the maize is properly dried, we safeguard farmers&039; hard work and reduce post-harvest losses which often occur when maize is not adequately dried. This reliable process helps farmers maintain higher yields and ensures they can access better market opportunities.”

Twahirwa said that the facility also helps in pest control and farmer education in order to reduce food waste before the harvest period.

"We provide insecticides to combat maize diseases and actively educate farmers on best practices to protect their crops. This includes proper crop rotation, timely planting, appropriate spacing to avoid overcrowding, and regular field inspections to detect early signs of disease. By empowering farmers with both knowledge and resources, we help them maintain healthy crops and maximise their yields,” he said.

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A key concern for farmers has been ensuring fair prices for their produce. Last season, farmers expressed dissatisfaction over low maize prices. This year, stakeholders are prioritising market connections to improve negotiations between farmers, cooperatives, and buyers.

"We are actively connecting farmers with potential buyers and cooperatives. We are facilitating negotiations to ensure fair market rates based on supply and demand factors. The ministry of trade is also playing a supportive role in market preparations,” said Rwagange.

"RAB established aggregators, individuals who collect maize from various farmers, also play an essential role in the supply chain where they help to stabilise the market and ensure timely distribution of production between buyers and farmers.”

Twahirwa also said: "We help citizens connect with reliable buyers, ensuring that transactions occur at prices set by the government. This approach guarantees farmers receive fair value for their hard work. By bridging the gap between farmers and the market, we not only protect them from exploitation but also promote trust and transparency in the agricultural value chain.”

"In the past I would lose a large part of my maize crop harvest due to spoilage. Without a proper drying method, we faced challenges, especially during the rainy season when drying was almost impossible. If it rained, our maize would not dry properly, and that led to wastage,” said Jeanette Umuliza, a maize farmer from Kiramuruzi.

"The same applied to storage as we could only store as much as we could fit in our homes, which was often not enough to keep the maize safe for long. Now, with the facility, we can dry our crops properly, store them safely, and avoid losing valuable produce.”

Jacques Muzungu, a member of a cooperative in Ngoma District, added: "In the past, I was compelled to accept whatever price was offered by middlemen, even if it was unfair. But now, with the facility connecting us directly to buyers, we know the price is set by the government, and we get fair compensation for our hard work.”

Esperance Nahimana, a maize farmer in Gakenke District, said that she experienced a reduction in post-harvest losses and an increase in maize production because of the assistance provided by RAB.

Through the hands-on training and field assistance provided by RAB, farmers are learning key techniques to better manage their crops.

She said: "RAB gave us people who closely monitor our production and teach us better farming practices. They showed us how to measure maize dryness, which helps us prevent rotting.

"In the past, we lost much of our harvest because we did not know how to handle it properly. But today, the losses have greatly reduced. Although mobile dryers have not been introduced here yet, the improvements we have seen in production are encouraging. Annd we are hopeful for even better results in the future.”