Claude’s formula that turned avocados and chillies into a thriving natural oil business
In a modest workshop tucked away in Rwanda’s Kamonyi District, a rich aroma of fresh chilli and ripe avocado fills the air. Amidst sacks of raw produce and rows of neatly labelled bottles, a man in a wheelchair inspects a newly installed processing machine, his eyes scanning it with quiet satisfaction. At first glance, 28-year-old […]
Rwanda’s farms step into global markets, one certification at a time
When Adeline Mukayirere first received an international order for her horticultural produce in 2024, after attending market linkage exhibitions including the Rwanda-UK Trade Mission in Kigali, Rwanda and the Fruit Attraction in Spain, she was over the moon. It was the kind of opportunity she had long hoped for and a chance to see her farm’s produce […]
Equipping Rwanda’s youth with skills and standards to unlock jobs and markets
When Annoncée Nsengimana graduated in Irrigation and Drainage, she expected to build a career in crop production. Instead, her first professional placement took her to a poultry farm in eastern Rwanda, when the opportunity came through the Value-Added Initiative to Boost Employment (VIBE)’s Young Professionals Programme. She enrolled and found herself deployed to a poultry […]
Rwanda’s SOUK Farms marks milestone with inaugural 24-tonne avocado shipment to the EU
Rwanda began on a high with SOUK Farms, a Value-added Initiative to Boost Employment (VIBE) programme participant, dispatching its inaugural consignment of Hass avocados to the European Union (EU) on 4 September 2025. Weighing in at 24 tonnes, the shipment travelled from Kigali via the Mombasa–Rotterdam Sea route, marking the company’s transition to full capacity […]
Rwanda’s meat sector receives a boost as young inspectors step up to the plate on standards enforcement
When 29-year-old veterinary graduate Ernest Ngabonziza completed his six-month training as a private meat inspector (PMI) in June 2025, he walked away with a certificate and a vision for both sustainable employment and a chance to build something bigger in his life. Prior to this, he was practicing as a veterinary officer for seven years […]
How a Kenyan Cooperative is Turning Compliance into a Catalyst for Rural Prosperity
Murang’a County, a significant avocado-producing region in Kenya, contributes 40% of the national output, valued at over $3.5 million. Most homes in the area have small orchards, which have become crucial for rural livelihoods. While cities like Madrid and Stockholm offer lucrative markets for avocados, Murang’a farmers, like others in Kenya, face barriers to entry. […]
Faith and farming drive a Tanzanian export success story
Beneath the scorching sun, Pastor Clement Manyata, the CEO of Fresh Field, walks through rows of lush green fields, watching as workers carefully harvest fresh vegetables. Nearby, crates are stacked in neat aisles, ready for export. Such a sight once felt like an impossible dream. Today, Fresh Field Manyatta exports vegetables, including bitter gourd (bitter […]
Juiced up for success – How a Rwandan entrepreneur is turning fruit into fortune
Hawa Chloe Niyigena, Whiz Upp Founder, turned a small fruit-processing business into a cross-border success. Cross-border trade in Africa is rarely about just having a good product. For most small businesses, the real hurdle is compliance, meeting multiple national and regional standards that determine whether, for example, a fruit puree clears customs or gets turned […]
Tanzanian women traders find a digital lifeline and expand their businesses through iSOKO
Getruda Mushi CEO of Muge Africart holding on of her products. In Tanzania, where informal trade is widespread and access to markets and finance remains patchy, digital tools are beginning to reshape how small businesses operate. Platforms like iSOKO, a digital platform developed by TMA with support from Global Affairs Canada, help bridge the gap, […]
Cooperatives catalyse safer and more profitable trade for women at the Kenya-Uganda border
Asmin Abdalla shares a moment with Mariam Mbaabu, chair of Busia Women Cross-Border Traders Cooperative. As the sun rises over Busia, the bustling border town between Kenya and Uganda comes to life. Traders haggle over prices, trucks roll through customs, and the scent of fresh fish fills the air. Among them is Natocho Susan Charity, […]