RDB seeks investors to set up horticulture produce market in economic zone

Rwanda Development Board is seeking investors to build a fresh produce wholesale market at the Kigali Special Economic Zone in Kicukiro District as one of the ways to boost production and marketing of horticultural produce. The project estimated to cost $48m (about Rwf32.5b) and will be constructed on a 10-hectare piece of land, according the Rwanda Development Board.Thaddée Munyemana, a fruit farmer in Bugesera District, welcomed the move, saying the initiative will help address some of the challenges farmers are facing, including lack of a reliable market, modern storage facilities, transportation and market for produce.He added that when implemented, it will also boost production ‘because farmers will be assured of a ready market’. Officials from the Ministry of Agriculture said the project will also reduce post-harvest losses of horticulture produce like fruits and vegetables.Alfred Mutebwa, the price project for rural income through export programme co-ordinator at the agriculture ministry, said the facility is an inducement for famers to increase production.“More people will now be attracted into horticulture since there will be an assurance for a facility from where they can sell their produce,” he said.According to statistics from the agriculture ministry, post-harvest losses account for 20 per cent of the total losses in horticulture.Vivian Kaitesi, the head of investments at the Rwanda Development Board, said the objective of the project is to establish a modern and well-managed wholesale food market in the City of Kigali to widen market access for farmers. The project will be undertaken as a public-private partnership, Kaitesi added last week. Rwanda Development Board is, however, tightlipped on when the project will kick off.According to official figures from the National Agriculture Exports Board, production of horticultural produce is expected to reach $225m by 2017 from $20m presently.Plans to plant about 175 million stems of fruits and vegetables in the next three years are also underway, according to Corneille Ntakirutimana, the director for production at NAEB.

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RDB seeks investors to set up horticulture produce market in economic zone