Rwanda- Cassava is a cornerstone in Rwanda’s agricultural landscape, deeply embedded in the lives of over 700,000 family farms. With an impressive annual production of over 1.7 million tons, this crop plays a vital role in the country’s fight against food insecurity due to its high yield per hectare and versatility in various by-products. Despite its significance, smallholder farmers have struggled for years with accessing consistent markets for their produce.
For more than twenty years, the Ingabo Syndicate, a leading organization uniting Rwandan agricultural cooperatives, has been instrumental in addressing these market access challenges. With a membership of 15,000 farmers, more than half of whom cultivate cassava, the syndicate has become a key player in guiding small-scale farmers through the intricacies of the value chain. Their mission has been supported by the Farmers’ Organizations for Africa, Caribbean and Pacific (FO4ACP) program, which is backed by International Fund for Agricultural Development, the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States, and the European Union, providing critical technical assistance to both cooperatives and individual farmers.
The syndicate has prioritized establishing strong partnerships between cooperatives and downstream businesses, a strategy that has proven effective in integrating smallholders into broader value chains. A notable success story is the partnership between 15 cassava producer cooperatives and the Kinazi Cassava Plant. Before this collaboration, the plant faced challenges with irregular raw cassava supplies, as producers often sought better prices elsewhere. This instability disrupted the production of cassava flour, affecting the entire chain.
In 2020, recognizing the need for a stable supply chain, the Ingabo Syndicate took on a mediating role in contract negotiations between the cooperatives and the Kinazi Cassava Plant. The resulting contract guaranteed that the cooperatives could sell their entire 2021 crop directly to the plant at a competitive price, with a set delivery schedule. This agreement not only ensured timely payments to the cooperatives but also introduced a dispute resolution mechanism to handle any disagreements, safeguarding the partnership. The contract transformed the relationship between the cooperatives and the plant, creating a mutually beneficial arrangement.
The syndicate’s efforts have not stopped at securing one-off contracts. They are currently developing a model contract that individual cooperatives can adapt and reuse. These formalized business agreements enable cooperatives to negotiate better prices for their produce, factoring in production costs. Additionally, these contracts serve as proof of formal business relationships, which in turn helps cooperatives access loans that were previously out of reach due to a lack of collateral. The credit obtained can then be reinvested in improving operations, further solidifying the cooperatives’ economic standing.
Despite these strides, challenges persist. A significant portion of cassava produced by the syndicate’s farmers remains unsold to the Kinazi Cassava Plant, leaving many producers still in need of market access solutions. In response, a small group of 89 cassava producers, along with three cooperatives within the syndicate, founded CassVenture Ltd in September 2020. This new company is exploring new business opportunities, particularly in the Congolese cities of Goma and Bukavu, where demand for fresh cassava is expected to be strong. CassVenture Ltd is also focusing on securing the necessary transportation and storage infrastructure to help expand market reach for cooperatives and producers.
Looking ahead, the Ingabo Syndicate remains dedicated to enhancing conditions for its members across the cassava value chain. Research suggests that using higher-quality cassava varieties could nearly quadruple yields. This has led the syndicate to collaborate with local research institutes to develop more disease-resistant cassava strains. They are also pushing for improved agricultural policies and government subsidies while continuing to forge partnerships with robust private sector players to ensure a reliable market for their produce.
Through these diverse efforts, the Ingabo Syndicate is not only helping Rwandan cassava farmers achieve better value for their produce but is also strengthening the entire cassava value chain, making it more resilient and sustainable for the future.
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