Sunflower (Ibihwagari) Project

Country: Rwanda
Project details
Services:
Access to finance
Capacity building
Market assessment
Value chain development
Crops:
Oil crops

Sunflower (Ibihwagari) Project, Rwanda, 2022-2025

Donor: Achmea Foundation

Goal 

The project’s goal is to improve the resilience and livelihood of smallholder sunflower farmers in Rwanda by increasing crop productivity and farmers’ access to markets and finances.

What we do

In cooperating with micro-finance Institutions (MFIs), the Rwandan Agriculture Board (RAB), sunflower oil processing plants, and selected cooperatives, EUCORD aims to:

  1. Connect sunflower processors to local farmers
  2. Help identify and implement good agricultural practices to ensure better return on investment for farmers
  3. Improve value chain by organizing sunflower farmers into cooperatives, strengthening their production capacity and their ability to connect with larger markets

Accomplishments

  • 6,511 farmers (including 52% women) from 32 cooperatives were trained on sunflower production, GAP and post-harvest handling techniques.
  • 32 cooperative management committees were trained on financial management and marketing with 43% women. Advanced training in financial management and marketing will be conducted in December 2024.
  • 180 hectares were cropped during the 2025 A season and a total cumulative of 697 hectares of land has been cropped under sunflower since the project’s start.
  • 18 farming contracts were signed between oil processors and sunflower producers.
  • The processor Digne Manufacturer Ltd received financial support to purchase an oil pressing machine and dehuller to meet Rwanda Standard Board (RSB) and Rwanda Food and Drug Authority (RFDA) standards