Between July and November 2019, exactly 11,292 tonnes of fresh vegetables were exported earning the country more than $7.5 million (over Rwf6.9 billion). This is according to latest statistics from the National Agricultural Export Development Board (NAEB) which were announced on Wednesday. According to NAEB, the revenues represent an increase of 47 per cent compared to the same period of 2018 when only 8,387 tonnes were exported bringing in $5.1 million (over Rwf4.7 billion). The growth is attributed to various government strategies in shifting from subsistence to market-oriented agriculture, NAEB indicated. Meanwhile, the export body also announced that fruit volumes totaling 4,513 tonnes were exported to rake in over $3.7 million in the first five months of the ongoing financial year, while 4,282 tonnes were exported during the same period of the previous year. Most of the vegetables and fruits are exported to the Democratic Republic of Congo, UK, Belgium, Netherlands, France and the Middle East. In the fiscal year 2018/2019 which started on July 1, 2018 and ended on June 30, 2019, vegetable exports amounted to 26,751 tonnes which generated$15.63 million in revenues, according to NAEB’s annual report 2018-2019. That was higher than 20,635 tonnes which were exported in the same period in the previous fiscal year (2017/2018) valued at $12.38 million.
