THE PROBLEM

Most of Rwanda’s 3.9 million full-time farmers and their families are subsistence level and rainfall-dependent. Demanding work that produces just enough to feed themselves leaves little surplus for sale, and few savings. Climate-change driven unpredictable weather, flooding and erosion mean harvests are increasingly unreliable, leaving the poorest rural communities facing more poverty and shrinking opportunities.

THE SOLUTION

RDI is a youth and agriculture development organization which has aim of transforming subsistence agriculture into market-oriented agriculture through training and market connections for smallholder farmers, effectively protecting them from price shocks while increasing their profits.

WHY RDI?

We are a youth and agriculture NGO, working in highly vulnerable rural communities to expand livelihood opportunities and support the transition of smallholder farmers to profitable market agriculture. With around 4 million Rwandans (almost 30% of the entire population) between ages 15-30, we believe that prioritizing youth in our programs is crucial for a flourishing rural future.

Climate-Smart Training: From Seeds to Soil to Sales

Our modular, field-based educational approach means lasting learning outcomes at every step; our trainings address all aspects of the value chain, from seeds and labour to wholesaling and consumers.

Crops to Market

More than just schooling, at RDI we work to connect farmers to favourable markets; our trainings enable them to confidently continue those connections themselves.

Rural Youth Engagement

As impassioned, market-farmer advocates we prioritize the new rural generation in all our programs, to build the capacity of youth across the agro-food and agroforestry value chain.

Climate Change Resilience

sensitive approaches cross-cut all we do. Our TerraFund agroforestry project targets environmental protection and climate-change impacts through large-scale tree-planting in very vulnerable rural locations.

Our Partners

Our Programs

Transitioning close to 4 million farmers from subsistence to market growing and sales is a multi-faceted undertaking. Rural Rwandans know their traditional livelihoods & methods are no match for the climate challenges they face. RDI’s participatory, multi-pronged approach tackles real problems– like fields being washed away, hand-in-hand with those they most effect.

Learn more …

Learn more …

Learn more …

How we do it

Skills development

Equipping rural farmers with skills in modern, climate-smart agriculture to increase productivity and sustain production resource; and the confidence and tools to reach buyers.

Support

Enabling subsistence farmers’ access to productive tools, resources and materials including seedlings and saplings, for increased production and income.

Access to markets

Linking farmers with fair-market, ethical buyers so their hard work brings higher earnings.

Climate Change Resilience

Unpredictable weather, flooding, and loss of arable land — RDI trains farmer groups in climate-smart planting, mulching, irrigation and fertilization techniques; our agroforestry projects aim to counter erosion, mitigate flooding, revitalize soil, sequester CO2 & create sustainable employment

Climate-Friendly Farming101

Courtesy of (Farming First, 2016)

Stories

Mukamana Chantal is proud that her new job at our Rutsiro District nursery is growing trees that will ease flooding on the banks of the Muregeya River.