Business

Although agriculture plays a crucial role in Rwanda’s economy, smallholder farmers continue to face challenges that stop them from fully participating in the agricultural value chain. A lack of access to markets is compounded by post-harvest losses and limited access to quality inputs and credit.

Afri-Farmers Market connects over 13,000 smallholder farmers directly to consumers and businesses through a digital platform and five physical retail outlets in Kigali, creating reliable market access while improving food security and farmer livelihoods. The company helps farmers access fair and predictable markets for their produce by aggregating fresh fruits, vegetables, and other agricultural products from farmers, conducting quality control, and distributing them through an integrated supply chain.

Beyond market access, Afri-Farmers Market provides farmers with extension services, climate-smart agriculture training, and a revolving farmers’ fund that allows farmers to access seeds and fertilisers on credit, repaid after harvest. This closes the input financing gap that prevents many smallholders from investing in their land.

Impact

Afri-Farmers Market promotes climate-smart and regenerative agriculture practices across its farmer network, including crop rotation, integrated pest management, efficient water use, organic soil management, and the adoption of climate-resilient seed varieties. These practices improve soil fertility, enhance water retention, increase carbon sequestration, and reduce land degradation. Its cold-chain logistics and rapid distribution model reduce post-harvest food loss, cutting the embedded carbon cost of wasted production.