SPARK IGNITE: THE 9Th KIGALI NATIONAL AGRICULTURE SHOW!
By Jado Kabengera
The Rwanda Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources organised and launched the 9th Kigali National Agriculture Show from 4th to 12th June 2014 with theme: “Transforming Agriculture for shared prosperity and improved livelihoods”.
In this context, Spark Rwanda, through the Cooperative Support Program, facilitated some of its beneficiaries who are in Agri-Business attend the show. yearly event, an ideal platform that brings both exhibitors and visitors together for the exchange of information, experience, find new products, services and partnership as well as getting market and investment opportunities.
The facilitated entrepreneurs include:
Natural Fruit Dried Company LTD, a specialized company in the value addition of pineapple from growing till processing. The company product, The Natural Dried Pineapple (AKANOZO in local language) is a packed and long lasting snack suitable for tourists, field work, school children, a dissert for modern catering, just to name few.
This promising business owned and managed by Mrs. Uwamwezi Mercienne is located in Nyagatare District – Eastern Province of Rwanda.
Hinga volcano – Seed Promotion Company, a company experienced in growing, multiplying and distributing flower. The Company also grows the sweet potatoes, does researches on and multiplies seed varieties. The company is managed by Mr. Musabyimana Emmanuel and is located in Musanza District – Northern Province of Rwanda.
ETS Nzabarinda Isaac focuses on seed multiplication of sweet potatoes using green houses. Nzabarinda, the Managing Director, has attended several training in different countries in and out of Africa in green house management and development respectively. His business is located Musanze District – Northern Province of Rwanda.
Cooperative des Agriculteurs des Mais dans la zone des Volcans (COAMV), the cooperative grows and processes maize products from grains to maize floor packaged in affordable kilograms.
“It has been a great opportunity for us exhibiting our innovations and best practices in the agriculture sector in Rwanda. It’s exciting! We have been able to: Promote our products and company to a wide market; share experience with others, especially our competitors; Develop partnership with key players in the agriculture sector; Attract great buyers and last but not least, we made money because we didn’t only exhibit we also sold our products. Hoping to keep the good our collaboration, we thank a lot SPARK for their support in developing entrepreneurs”. Said Marcienne, the MD of the Natural Fruit Dried Company.
* Jado Kabengera is a Programme Officer for SPARK Rwanda
SPARK IGNITE is SPARK’s blog of stories, updates and opinions by SPARK staff, on relevant topics in the news, stories from the fields, and what inspire us to do what we do. We welcome external contributions; to contribute please contact media[at]spark-online.org.