Rwanda’s Rosine Ndayishimiye Innovates Farming Practices to Combat Food Insecurity
Kigali, Rwanda – Rosine Ndayishimiye, once a young dreamer aspiring to become an astronaut, has redirected her ambitions toward revolutionizing agriculture in Rwanda through the Bridge2Rwanda (B2R) program. With a degree from Babson College in Massachusetts, Ndayishimiye serves as the Director of Training for B2R Farms, the nonprofit’s agricultural division aimed at addressing food insecurity and promoting sustainable farming.
Though her initial goal was in finance, Ndayishimiye was inspired to return to her roots and tackle Rwanda’s pressing agricultural challenges. Founded in 2007 by businessman Dale Dawson and Bishop John Rucyahana, B2R sought to improve education and economic opportunities in Rwanda, leading to the establishment of its agricultural sector.
Despite having no prior experience in farming, Ndayishimiye embraced the challenge following her education, seizing the opportunity to manage a 15-acre farm donated to B2R. The program focuses on innovative techniques such as minimum or no tillage, crop rotations, and efficient use of cover crops, addressing issues like soil erosion and declining yields that affect 70% of Africa’s small-scale farmers.
Results have been remarkable since the program’s inception in 2018, with some farmers experiencing yield increases of up to three times, alongside a 20% reduction in input costs and a 45% decrease in labor. Over 106,000 farmers have been trained, and the initiative aims to establish test plots in every village across the country.
As Ndayishimiye looks ahead, she aspires to change farming practices not only in Rwanda but throughout the African continent. “Farmers can become the best in the world,” she insists. Her vision of integrating sustainable practices could reshape the future of agriculture in Africa, allowing farmers to rise above local challenges and secure economic opportunities.
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