TRANSFORMING TRADE: RWANDA

In Rwanda’s eastern province, Green Wonder is one such Rwandan farm that is creating jobs and helping feed a growing nation. Founded in December 2023 by Ronald Assimwe, the farm spans about 103 acres in the Ngoma district and now employs 153 people. It grows chilli, flowers, tomatoes, cucumbers, avocados and French beans.

Green Wonder is about more than commercial farming. Ronald says he set up the farm to address food insecurity in Rwanda.  

“I wanted to contribute to food security in this country,” he says.

That purpose runs through the business. Chilli became one of the farm’s key crops because of the climate, market demand and relatively low cost of production. From there, the business expanded into export crops for buyers in China and Europe, while tomatoes continue to serve the local market.

For Ronald, the link to us is essential. Produce destined for export is taken to our cold storage facilities, where it is repackaged and prepared for the market. That cold chain support helps preserve freshness, extend shelf life and protect value.

“It preserves the produce,” he says. “Our produce is able to get to the final consumer in good shape.”

The farm’s impact is also local. With more than 150 employees, many of them women, Green Wonder has helped create income and stability in the surrounding community. Ronald says it has also reduced unemployment-related problems in the area, including teen pregnancy and drug abuse.

As the farm grows, Ronald says he is thinking bigger. He wants Rwanda to build a stronger place in global agriculture, supported by government and private-sector partnerships.

“We are dreaming big for the future,” he says. “There are so many opportunities being created for Rwandan farmers.” 

Allen Umulisa didn’t plan to become an exporter. After finishing school, she faced the same choice as many young Rwandans: look for a job, or try to build something of her own. With no clear path, she chose farming and started on just half a hectare of land.

Today, that decision has grown into RAI Green Stalks, a business exporting fresh produce to Europe and the Middle East.

“I started small,” she says. “But I could see the impact on my life and in the community.”

Over just a few years, Allen expanded from a small plot to multiple hectares, building a network of around 250 farmers across five cooperatives. Her exports have grown from 700 kilograms a week to more than 15 tonnes of chillies, alongside 20–30 tonnes of avocados.

That growth is creating opportunity. Around 75% of the people she works with are women, and many are young people building their first source of income.

A key turning point came when Allen began exporting.

Fresh produce is highly perishable. Without the right systems in place, reaching international markets is difficult. Access to packing, sorting and pre-cooling facilities made it possible to maintain quality and meet export standards.

Now, Allen doesn’t just grow produce, she supports a network of farmers, providing seedlings, technical training and a guaranteed market for their crops. For many of these farmers, this access to markets is transformational, turning small-scale farming into a reliable source of income.

“We help them grow, and we buy from them,” she explains. “That means they earn, and they can build their lives.”

For Allen, agriculture is no longer just about farming. It’s about business, jobs and long-term opportunity.

“I can tell young people there is hope,” she says. “There is opportunity. Everything is possible.”