Between 1994 and 2023, ASARECA invested US$ 5.90 million to catalyse agricultural transformation in Rwanda through key beneficiary projects. Through these projects 2.43 million beneficiaries were reached, 4,723 stakeholders were trained, and 333 ha of land were brought under improved TIMPs. The following are highlights of the projects undertaken:

Building capacity of scientists to deliver AR4D

ASARECA in 2008 sponsored 34 young, mid-level scientists from Rwanda, Burundi and Sudan to undertake leadership and mentorship training, and master’s degree studies in various disciplines through the Strengthening Capacity for Agricultural Research and Development in Eastern and Central Africa (SCARDA) project. A total of six scientists in Rwanda received Master’s degrees, and returned to take up various leadership positions in the ISAR/RAB research structure.

Promoting banana productivity and value addition

Working with RAB and the Kigali Institute of Science and Technology, ASARECA facilitated efforts to increase productivity and profitability in the banana value chain by promoting use of clean planting materials and improvements in banana processing by Rwandan cooperatives. Specifically, COPROVIBA, a farmer cooperative, benefited from this project and improved its capacity to handle up to 4 tons of banana weekly