The move aims to support local farmers by providing them with high-quality seeds and training in modern farming techniques, which will help to increase crop yields and improve food and nutrition security in the country.

In addition to the training, farmers will be given options to choose between the old and new quality seeds in order to compare the yield and quality, from which they can pick the seed to grow. 

A bigger percentage of Rwanda’s 12 million population rely on agriculture for their livelihoods. However, despite its rich agricultural heritage, the country, like many of the African countries has struggled to maintain access to modern high-quality seeds, leading to low crop yields and a shortage of food in many parts of the country.

According to Dr. Shoshan Haran, Fair Planet Founder and President, a similar project has yielded tangible results in Ethiopia and Tanzania, and that despite Rwanda being a small market; the country has “great potential and untapped opportunities in the agriculture sector.” 

“The reality is that the many of the smallholder farmers in Rwanda lack access to high quality seeds, resulting in low farming productivity and poor income.” Dr. Shoshan said.

“We will test seed varieties and support the adoption of ag-tech solutions in the important agro-climatic regions of Rwanda, followed by training of smallholder farmers in Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) with the best locally performing varieties and ag-tech solutions.” She further expressed.

To address this challenge, Fair Planet has established partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture, and will work together with the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA), One Acre Fund and local organizations and government agencies in Rwanda to create a comprehensive program that will help smallholder farmers access high-quality seeds and improve their farming practices and income. The program will include training sessions on seed choice, soil preparation, and modern farming techniques, as well as providing farmers with access to the latest technologies and equipment. 

In addition, Fair Planet will work with local and international seed companies to increase seed production and distribution, with the goal of reaching more farmers across the country. The organization plans to establish seed training centers in key regions, which will be staffed by local experts who will provide training and support to farmers.

One of the key objectives of this holistic program is to help farmers increase their crop yields and income while improving food and nutrition security in Rwanda. By providing farmers with high-quality seeds and training in modern farming techniques, Fair Planet aims to help farmers produce more food and increase their income, which will in turn help to reduce poverty and hunger in the country.

Another important objective of the program is to promote sustainable agriculture practices through working with farmers to help them adopt more sustainable farming methods, such as proper crop protection to reduce the use of chemicals and the impact of farming on the environment.

The 5-year program (2023-2027) is expected to reach smallholder farmers across the whole country. According to Fair Planet, when trained and empowered, small lead farmer can be key agents of change by playing a significant and transformative role in Rwanda’s agriculture sector, hence strengthening the food system and achieving food and nutrition security.​