As the Ngoma Tomato processing plant in the Eastern province nears completion, the commercialization one of the country’s most widely grown crops is anticipated to take a sharp, positive trajectory.
The facility, designed to process 10 tons of tomatoes per day, at initial capacity, is being positioned as the anchor of a national strategy to reduce post-harvest losses, secure farmer incomes, and shrink Rwanda’s heavy reliance on imported tomato paste and related products.
This development comes at a critical moment where Rwanda produces more than 84,000 tons of tomatoes annually, yet up to 40–60 percent of that volume after harvest goes to waste.
Experts say losses are driven by unstable farm-gate prices, poor storage, unpredictable demand, limited processing options, and the country’s high vulnerability to climate variability.
As a result, Rwanda still imports large quantities of tomato paste. Statistics show that nearly 19.7 million kilograms were imported in 2022 alone.
A final dissemination workshop held this week at the University of Rwanda’s College of Agriculture, Animal Sciences and Veterinary Medicine (UR-CAFF) in Musanze district brought together key partners behind the initiative.
The various stakeholders shared detailed findings and progress updates, showing how the project has evolved from research and field trials into a national supply-chain transformation model.
Officials agreed that the factory is a structural solution to chronic market instability that has long discouraged investment in tomato production.
The project includes farmer training, climate-resilient production planning, contract farming, digital traceability, and research-driven improvements in soil and fertilizer efficiency.
With 10,750 farmers already formally integrated into the plant’s supply network, the factory is expected to stabilize volumes, improve quality, and support consistent pricing across seasons.
Research foundation for waste reduction, higher yields
As Project Principal Investigator, Dr. Didace Ndahimana outlined the scientific foundation behind the plant’s design and the broader value-chain strategy. He said the research team focused on reducing losses at farm level while transforming tomato residues into productive inputs.
“The fertilizer we produced from tomato residues increased yields by 12 percent compared to conventional fertilizer. This shows that residues are not waste, they are a valuable resource for improving production,” he said.
The team also presented a tomato paste prototype developed in university laboratories, demonstrating that Rwanda can produce paste meeting the quality expected by both domestic markets and processors.
Ndahimana emphasized that the factory will offer farmers predictable demand and reliable prices. “Once the plant becomes operational, farmers will have a guaranteed market for their produce. This is crucial for stability and long-term income growth,” he said.
Climate-resilient and digitally coordinated supply chain
Swisscontact–CASA Programme’s Fabien Kayitare explained how the farmer supply model was designed to shield the tomato sector from climate and market shocks. He noted that farmers have historically relied on rainfall and fragmented aggregation systems, leaving them vulnerable to both oversupply and scarcity.
Kayitare said that the existing support system now connects 10,750 farmers from eight districts through structured contract farming. “Digitizing contracts, delivery tracking, and payments has improved transparency and efficiency across the chain,” he said.
Tools such as mobile-based registration, production forecasting, and traceability support better scheduling, especially during unpredictable weather periods.
Kayitare added that the system is expected to generate around 300 direct jobs and more than 1,200 indirect jobs, creating broad economic spillover effects.
Afrinet Solutions Group CEO Dieudonné Nteziyaremye confirmed that installation work at the Ngoma plant is in its final stages. He noted that the project faced delays after a fire destroyed machinery, forcing the company to reorder critical equipment from abroad.
“It slowed us down, but we are now approaching full readiness. “The plant is built to international standards and will process 10 tons of tomatoes per day,” he explained.
Afrinet has already signed supply contracts with all 10,750 registered farmers to ensure a consistent flow of raw materials. Nteziyaremye added that insights gained from agribusiness missions in Europe and Africa helped refine the plant’s business model and operational systems.
MINAGRI’s Director General of value chain management and trade, Alice Mukamugema, said the factory will significantly reduce import dependence. “The money that was being spent on importing tomato products will now remain in the country,” she noted
