Horticulture farmers in Rubavu District, Rwanda, are making progress in combating malnutrition through the Good Food for Cities (GFC) project, which is supported by Kilimo Trust Rwanda. The project, running from 2022 to 2026, has trained over 2,000 smallholder farmers in smart agricultural practices. This initiative equips farmers with skills to improve food security and provides them with tools to maintain kitchen gardens, helping families like that of Chantal Nyirabarekezi to access nutritious food. In addition, the construction of a cooling room at the KOTIBANYA cooperative has helped reduce produce wastage by enabling better storage conditions.
Kilimo Trust’s training emphasizes good agricultural practices such as soil erosion prevention, fruit tree planting, and the use of fertilizers. The project also aims to promote sustainable production while combating malnutrition. During an award ceremony in August 2024, 61 winners, including the best farmers and cooperatives, were recognized with prizes such as livestock and agricultural tools. The GFC project seeks to establish commercial production enterprises and expand the structured trade of 5,000 MT of healthy, sustainable food, aligning with market demand.