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KOICA in Partnership with NAEB to Implement SFVCMP, worth 11 million USD

By Anne MUHIZA

Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), the aid agency of the Republic of Korea in partnership with National Agriculture Export Board (NAEB), confirmed the implementation of a new project called, ‘Smart Food Value Chain Management Project (SFVCMP)’, whose total budget is expected to be 11 million USD, approximately 11 billion RWF and the execution period of the project is set to be 2022 to 2026. January 31st 2022

KOICA announced the plan when Mr. CHON Gyong Shik, the Country Director of KOICA Rwanda, had a meeting with Mr. Jean Claude Musabyimana, Permanent Secretary (PS) of the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources (MINAGRI) through virtual meeting on the 27th January 2022.

During the meeting, they discussed various ways to strengthen mutual partnership in the horticulture sector. And in addition, they agreed that the Smart Food Value Chain Management (SFVCMP) project should be aligned with Rwanda’s policies and strategies such as NST1, Made in Rwanda Policy and others for the horticulture export.

“We thank the government of the Republic of Korea and their experts for their active cooperation, and this project will improve the exportation of horticultural crops, reduce post-harvest losses and increase farmer’s household income” Mr. Jean Claude Musabyimana, MINAGRI’s Permanent Secretary said in his statement.

Mr. CHON Gyong Shik, the Country Director of KOICA Rwanda also said, “We hope this project will increase added value of agriculture emerging commodities such as horticulture crops and contribute to increase exportation and ultimately the income of farmers. I appreciate the Rwanda government for its solid cooperation with us including RCSP, SAPMP.”

Previously, Mr. CHON Gyong Shik, the Country Director of KOICA Rwanda had a meeting with Dr. Jean-Chrysostome Ngabitsinze, Minister of State in MINAGRI on the 28th January 2022 at MINAGRI, where they discussed about KOICA’s current agriculture portfolio in Rwanda, issues that need to be addressed for smooth implementation of the various projects, and as well talked about prospect projects and future collaboration areas between the two countries in as far as Agriculture and Animal Resources development are concerned.

A team of Five Korean experts was dispatched to Rwanda for the in-depth survey of the project. With their expertise in the sectors of Agriculture and Rural Development, Food machinery, Architect, ICT System, Monitoring and Evaluation, during their mission, not only will they have meetings with different stakeholders including government organizations, farmer cooperatives and horticulture export companies, but will also visit different proposed project sites in the districts of Bugesera, Nyagatare, Rulindo and Rubavu.

The Smart Food Value Chain Management Project aims at improving farmers’ income through establishing smart food value chain management system for horticulture export. This project will contribute to promoting national export (Made in Rwanda) and diversifying agricultural export from traditional commodities (Coffee and Tea) into emerging commodities such as horticulture crops.

With the budget of USD 9.5 million from the Korean government and USD 1.5 million from the Rwandan Government, the project will tackle three main components from 2022 to 2026: Establishing post-harvest infrastructures including processing centers to reduce post-harvest losses and add value to the horticulture produces, Upgrading the existing ICT solutions in Agriculture and Building farmer cooperatives’ post-harvest management capacities.

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