Some chili farmers in Kagitumba valley, organized under the KABOKU Cooperative, say that before they ventured into this type of farming, their lives were very difficult.
Roza Uwingabire says that chili farming helped her move out of homelessness—she now lives in a house she built herself.
She said: “Before I got into chili farming, I used to move from house to house every day. I didn’t have a stable place to stay here in Kagitumba, and rent was hard to afford because I was only surviving by doing odd jobs for others. But since I started farming chili as a member of the cooperative, I was able to buy a plot and build a house with 27 iron sheets. Now my children and I live peacefully without problems. I pay for health insurance (Mutuelle de Santé) on time, and I can afford to send my children to school with food—thanks to chili farming.” She adds that chili farming is a business that can bring significant income to anyone who works hard and receives the necessary support.
Hilariya Mutuyimana also confirms that chili farming has transformed her and her family’s life. She encourages those who doubt its potential to change their mindset and consider this farming seriously.
She said:
“Chili farming helps me a lot in daily life. I now do it as a profession, yet I once thought it was not something one could rely on.” She continued: “What I would say to other farmers who think chili farming can’t lead to progress is that they are mistaken. We also started it playfully, but looking at where we are now—it’s impressive. We now pay for our health insurance on time, school meals are provided on time, and generally, our household is doing well.”
Stephen Gasana, the mayor of Nyagatare District, says that Nyagatare is not only a center for subsistence farming but also focuses on cash crops. He emphasized their ongoing efforts to help farmers increase the value of their produce. He said:“ It’s true, as you mentioned, chili is grown here in Nyagatare. Farmers are increasingly interested in cultivating it, unlike in the past when they were not as engaged. He added that there is a joint project with NAEB and Korean partners to build facilities for drying chili peppers, this will help farmers process their produce properly and sell it at better prices, without the pressure of fearing losses.”
A recent survey of 2023-2024 by the Rwanda Agriculture and Animal Resources Development Board (RAB) in collaboration with NAEB found that chili is one of the most economically valuable subsistence crops. However, it still faces challenges including farmer mindsets, lack of knowledge about the use of fertilizers and pesticides, and climate change.
The report also showed that although there has been progress in seed production and supplying both local and export markets, these efforts are still lacking. This is due to poor planning, underdeveloped irrigation systems, and low market prices compared to the investment required.
Additionally, 65% of chili farmers in Rwanda use poor irrigation methods, which significantly affects yields, especially during periods of intense heat.
In the Kagitumba Valley, chili is grown on 8 hectares, and across the region, a total of 12 hectares are under chili cultivation. One hectare produces 15 tons of fresh chili, which, when dried, yields between 4 and 4.5 tons of dried chili.
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