Domestic fruits consumption is still low at 8 percent

Rwanda Horticulture Development Authority (RHODA) is targeting to earn an impressive Rwf8.3 million as export receipts of by end of next year, from fruits and nuts

According to Eric Kabayiza the in charge of production at RHODA, the target will be reached because Rwanda has taken a comparative advantage in the production of fruits, which have a high demand on both the international and the regional market.

The high quality fruits that Rwanda has specialised in producing include passion fruits, pineapple, avocado, goose berry and tree tomato.The revenues from the exportation of

fruits this year are estimated to rise from Rwf4.5 million in 2008 to Rwf5.7 million this year.

"Total production last year was 213,501 tonnes and we expect it to increase above that because we have already surpassed our strategy projections for this year,” explained Kabayiza.
The increase in production is also attributed to the distribution of seedlings to the farmers by the horticulture authority.

In a bid to promote the Rwandan fruits, RHODA has participated in two international trade fairs for horticulture this year that took in Germany and Dubai.

The domestic fruits consumption is still low at 8 percent while the biggest export goes to the regional market particularly Uganda and Kenya.

However, the total investment in the horticulture sector has been cut from Rwf2.2 million that was invested last year to Rwf1.4 million this year.

Rwanda has also found a new market for her fruits in Dubai and the country is engaged in negotiations with Coimex a clearing forwarding company to export the fruits to Dubai. Officials also said that Coimex can at least export 40 tonnes per week of all total agricultural products.
Currently, Rwanda exports about 6 tonnes of fruits per week with SN Brussels.

In order to gain easy access to international market, Rwandan fruit producers are seeking an international certificate. The country has contracted CERES a Germany company to ensure the certification.

Before the end of this year, Rwanda aims to have at least five fruit producing cooperatives certified.

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