The weavers of the world’s acclaimed local basket, Agaseke have been advised to create a niche for their products to complete favorable on the international market. The weavers have been advised to mix colours according to seasons in order to attract bigger a market share for their products especially in Japan. The advice was given yesterday by Dieudonne Nkulikiyinka, Executive Secretary of Kigali city while meeting 50 heads of different Agaseke cooperative societies that are with in Kigali city. Agaseke Promotion Project initiated by the Kigali City Council has about 3,000 women basket weavers, mainly made up of Genocide survivors and former sex workers who are grouped into 16 cooperatives. All their products are exported to Japan and they earn between Rwf40,000 and Rwf80,000 a month. Yuri Mito, the local coordinator of Ruise B, the Japanese firm that supplies Agaseke on the Japanese market advised weavers to always use brighter colours in summer, dark colours in winter and softer colours in autumn. “I assure you of a wider market in Japan if you can maintain these colours,” Mito said. She also urged them to be mindful of quality and production efficiency. Dinah Musindarwezo, the Agaseke project promotion manager in Kigali city lamented low production that does not meet the existing demand. She rallied women to indulge in weaving saying “it is one of the best income generating activities.” United States is another big consumer of Rwanda’s baskets. Ends
