On October 23, 2024, in Muhanga, the Ingabo Syndicate hosted the 7th Cassava Week with the theme, “Leveraging Available Opportunities to Enhance the Cassava Value Chain’s Contribution to Sustainable Food Systems.” The three-day event, running until October 25, aims to promote a Sustainable Seed System model recently introduced in Rwanda.
The event brought together farmers, government agencies, research institutions, private sector players, and financial institutions. Partners, including the Rwanda Agriculture and Animal Resources Development Board (RAB), played a key role in organizing the gathering.
In his opening address, Mbabazi Francoix Xavier, Chief Executive Officer of the Ingabo Syndicate, expressed gratitude to the event’s supporters and partners. “This event reflects our commitment to highlighting cassava’s importance in Rwanda’s food system, tracking progress in research and development, and charting a strategic way forward,” he said.
He noted that one of the major achievements since previous editions of Cassava Week is the establishment of district cassava platforms in 10 districts, which have become key hubs for supporting farmers in the sector.
To ensure that cassava farmers have access to the resources they need, the Ingabo Syndicate has partnered with financial institutions such as SPF INEZA and CLECAM. Mbabazi shared that these partnerships are helping farmer’s access loans on more favorable terms.
“Previously, farmers were charged an interest rate of 24%, but now, thanks to our efforts, this has been reduced to 18%. We will continue working with financial institutions to ensure farmers receive the necessary support to develop and thrive,” he added. Farmers now have flexible repayment plans, with options to repay loans within one to six months.
Mbabazi emphasized that the success of the cassava value chain cannot be achieved by the Ingabo Syndicate alone. “We need collective collaboration from all stakeholders, including farmers, researchers, government bodies, and the private sector. Only by working together can we ensure sustainable growth,” he concluded.
Despite reflecting on their achievements since the last Cassava Week, some cassava farmers working daily with the Ingabo Syndicate told ICK News that they are still facing challenges that require urgent solutions.
Speciose Mujawamariya, President of Abahizi ba Cyeza from Cyeza Sector in Muhanga District, explained that their cooperative is struggling with poor financial management. “The previous committee took out a loan, leaving us with no balance in the account, and now we are struggling to repay it,” she said.
Another farmer and cassava producer, Emmanuel Bashimiki, shared that they are still struggling to access quality seeds and that the 18% interest rate on their loans is too high.
The farmers emphasized the need for the Ingabo Syndicate to engage with them more closely and have meaningful conversations about how these challenges can be addressed. They expressed their wish for the loan interest rate to be reduced to 8%.
Dr. Ndabamenye Telesphore, Director General of the Rwanda Agriculture and Animal Resources Development Board (RAB), who attended the Cassava Week opening ceremony, addressed the issues raised by cassava farmers. He explained that RAB has continuously supported farmers by providing fertilizers and quality seeds, as cassava is one of the priority crops.
“All these efforts require financial resources,” Dr. Ndabamenye said. “This is why we encourage farmers to engage with banks and other financial institutions for loans. These institutions are essential partners in supporting post-harvest handling, processing, production, and swamp reclamation. We encourage farmers to take advantage of these services to enhance their productivity.”
He added that financing for agriculture is not yet at the desired level. “We are urging financial institutions to offer more support to farmers by providing loans to help them improve their production and livelihoods,” he said.
Regarding the current support system, Dr. Ndabamenye explained, “Our support rate is around 50%. For instance, if you have a project worth 100 million RWF, we can cover 50% of it.”
For farmers who still lack sufficient skills in cassava farming, Dr. Ndabamenye urged those already trained by the Ingabo Syndicate to take the initiative. “It is time for farmers who have received training two or three times to go back to their communities and teach others how to apply these skills to improve production,” he said.
Addressing other challenges, such as crops’ inability to withstand climate change, Dr. Ndabamenye acknowledged the complexity of developing climate-resilient seeds. “Creating such seeds takes time, but we haven’t stopped. We have already begun research on six new cassava varieties designed to cope with climate change,” he explained.
He added, “The research is progressing well, and we believe that within one year, we will introduce these new cassava varieties. We are confident we will have a good solution.”
The Ingabo Syndicate began its operations in Rwanda in 2005 and is currently working with around 16,000 cassava farmers, 55% of whom are women. Its activities span 10 of Rwanda’s 30 districts.
As Cassava Week progresses, participants will continue with sessions focused on research innovations, discussions on seed systems, and strategies for scaling up production. They will explore how cassava can further contribute to sustainable food systems and improve farmers’ livelihoods.
