More than 40% of horticultural produce in Rwanda goes to waste after harvest. Smallholder farmers who mainly depend on brokers and market days are disproportionately affected, suffering both harvest losses and reduced farmgate prices for their produce. Antoine Lyamuremye is one such farmer. He farms French green beans on a five-acre piece of land allocated to him by his family in the Karama sector of the Kamonyi district. He is also a member of the COAMALEKA cooperative, a which focuses on improving members’ livelihoods.
Antoine faced numerous farming challenges due to the unreliable nature of the fresh produce market, which is dominated by brokers and subject to volitile produce prices. He experienced the devastating consequences of relying solely on brokers when one promised to purchase and collect his 300 kg of fresh French green beans, but failed to show up. As a result, nearly 70% of his produce spoiled, leaving him with no choice but to sell the remaining beans at a significantly reduced price.
It was during a conversation with an official from the COAMALEKA cooperative that Antoine’s perspective took an enlightening turn. Sharing his distressing experience, he was reminded of the revolutionary solar cold storage facility available for the cooperative members’ use.
New solar-powered cold storage solutions for local farmers
Introduced by Munyax Eco, a WE4F-supported solar technology enterprise based in Kigali, the solar-powered cold storage solution has the potential to revolutionize the post-harvest management practices of local farmers in and around the cooperative, helping them to secure better prices for their produce.
During one planting period in early 2023, Antoine experienced the first benefits of the cold storage facility. Equipped with post-harvest management training from Munyax and the Advisory Council of Women in Rwanda (COCOF)Antoine stored 400 kg of French green beans for two weeks at a time when a ready market was not available. The cold storage ensured that none of his produce went to waste, enabling him to fetch a significantly higher market price once he found an off-taker for the produce.
Munyax Eco staff and equipment / Small holder farmers putting their produce in a solar cooling sotrage.
Advocating for cold storage technologies and strengthening food security in the region
Buoyed by this newfound success, Antoine seized the opportunity to expand his farming enterprise. He leased an additional 15 acres of farmland from the cooperative at an affordable rate. Now he engages in more extensive farming activities following the Rwanda Agricultural Board’s planting calendar. As a proactive member of the COAMALEKA cooperative, Antoine became an advocate for the adoption of cold storage technology. The facility has proven invaluable in preserving a wide range of fresh produce, including tomatoes, carrots, cabbages, eggplant and French green beans. With reduced post-harvest losses and improved market prices, cooperative members are beginning to witness the transformative power of this innovative cold storage solution.
For Antoine, the benefits of cold storage extend far beyond financial gains. As a husband and father, he can now provide for his family’s needs, including health insurance, and thankfully knows that his farming enterprises will generate a sustainable income.
