USADF FUNDS NEW AGRICULTURAL PROJECTS IN RWANDA

Monies Invested will Strengthen Existing African Businesses

WASHINGTON - July 24, 2008

WASHINGTON, D.C. – July 24, 2008 – The United States African Development Foundation has recently awarded grants to three projects in Rwanda, strengthening agriculture diversification in the African country. The projects promote tea and tomato production as well as corn milling. The funding is projected to create a higher standard of living for thousands of individuals involved.

Each of the grant recipients, Coopérative Théicole de Ramba Gaseke et Giciye (COTRAGAGI), Coopérative Production Agricole au Rwanda (COPAR-IMENA), and Coopérative des Agriculteurs de Mais dans la Zone des Volcans (COAMV), will receive funding designed to meet particular capacity building needs as determined by the cooperatives and ADF. 

ADF President Lloyd Pierson noted that the grants support African ideas stating, “ADF works directly with Africans at the grassroots level who seek to expand their own African business endeavors. The groups in Rwanda exemplify this.” 

COTRAGAGI, ranked the number one quality green leaf tea producer in Rwanda, will receive $88,000 over 18 months to increase yields and better meet tea factory demand. The co-op has acquired additional land for planting but has been severely limited due to its lack of seedling buying power. 

COPAR-IMENA’s tomato cooperative grant will utilize $96,000 over two years to experiment with new greenhouse technologies. The COAMV maize cooperative will receive $90,000 throughout the duration of the 18 month grant to improve the capacity of its milling services. All the cooperatives will utilize experience gained to prepare for expansion and take advantage of new market opportunities. 

Regional Program Coordinator Christine Fowles, explained the significance of the funding by stating “The Foundation and the Government of Rwanda signed a Memorandum of Understanding to promote the development of small holder agriculture, small and medium sized enterprises, and increase their competiveness in regional and international markets. The above named grantees are the first recipients under the program in 2008, receiving 50% of their funding from each party.”

The co-ops are located in various provinces throughout the country, including the Ngororero and Nyabihu Districts in the Western Province, the Gasabo and Kicukiro Districts in Kigali Urban, and the Burera District in the Northern Province.

The United States African Development Foundation (USADF) is a United States Government agency dedicated to expanding access to economic opportunity in Africa. Currently USADF operates in 18 African nations.  Over the past 25 years, USADF has directly funded nearly 1,100 African projects representing in excess of $150 million in support of African enterprises and local African communities.

For more information on USADF, its programs and application guidelines, visit www.usadf.gov.

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