RESILIENT MARKET AGRICULTURE
RDI delivers impactful, practical, field-based, hands-on trainings for increased agriculture productivity, variety and sales, with a special focus on value addition. Through extension services, linking farmers to markets, and expanding agriculture diversification, RDI works to enhance the skills, knowledge and confidence of Rwandan small-holders to transition to climate-resilient market agriculture and increase food security in the community.
RURAL YOUTH ENGAGEMENT
RDI’s national & global partnerships address youth employment challenges through our agriculture trainings and the enabling of fair market connections that support the sustainable employability and livelihoods of young people. With skills-development trainings aimed across the agriculture and agroforestry value-chain, our youth-focused programming emphasizes the provision of knowledge tools to support opportunities and prosperity for rural youth.
CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION AND ADAPTATION
RDI engages rural youth and the farming community in projects that reflect environmental issues urgently affecting this demographic. Our projects address deforestation, soil erosion, land productivity, sustainable agricultural production and livelihood opportunities, especially for youth in rural agricultural communities.
STORIES FROM THE FIELD
Our work is positively impacting the lives of more and more women, men and families. Whether food security and nutrition, increased income or land preservation, the effects are profound. Meet some of the project participants helping RDI make real change happen for themselves, their families and their communities.
MUKAMANA CHANTAL
This 34-year-old mother of two was unemployed before becoming manager at one of our Rutsiro District TerraFund nurseries. She is now a proud member of a savings and loans cooperative and is feeling optimistic about her family’s future.
“Before my husband alone worked and our home faced many problems. Now I have gotten up and found this work, and I save and I am developing myself.”
Chantal is very pleased that trees from her nursery will be planted on edges of the Muregeya River and help ease flooding that has caused land and mudslides in recent years. She’s also excited about the future avocado harvest.
“The avocado trees will really help woman. It’s women who harvest and feed avocados to their children. And they can sell them as well… even if men don’t give much importance to this type of activity!”
ALFRED TWAYIGIZE
Alfred is a loving father of six. Prior to being employed by the RDI TerraFund project nursery in Karongi District, this subsistence farmer often struggled to make ends meet and cover his children’s school fees. His job in the tree nursery has made a huge difference.
“This project really interested me and I was lucky enough to be hired. In our District, we are experiencing damage from natural disasters. Erosion can take away an entire field after heavy rain – this is happening more and more.
“These tree seedlings will be planted where soil has been washed away. They will help restore our fields. We are also going to grow and give good quality avocado seedlings to people in the community that will produce quickly and well.”
Uwidukaye Diane
Uwidukaye Diane, a 22-year-old farmer who specialized in agronomy during her secondary studies, is determined to make sure her younger siblings stay in school.
A member of one of six youth groups created by RDI in Gicumbi and Burera Districts (five for environmentally adaptive agricultural training and support; one for credit and savings related activities), Diane was also provided with 10 KG of seeds on credit, to kick-start her new climate- smart, market-farming future. Along with increased earnings from her harvests, she is also reproducing and selling seeds.
As the eldest child and with three younger siblings, Diane took on many of the household responsibilities after her mother died. Since becoming involved with RDI programs in early 2023 her harvests have increased, and paying household expenses and her siblings’ school fees has become less stressful. A current participant in the four-year PROFARM project to increase sustainable agriculture and nutrition in Gicumbi District, Northern Province, this inspiring young woman is feeling optimistic about her family’s future thanks to her involvement in RDI programs.
WHERE WE WORK
Current projects: Gicumbi, Burera, Rutsiro, Karongi, and Ruhango Districts.
Completed projects: Gatsibo, Musanze, and Nyagatare Districts
Leveraging lessons learned and best practices, RDI aims to expand its impact across Rwanda through further collaborative and sustainable development efforts.
