Co-Operative Agricultural Growth in Rwanda

Results achieved as of the end of the project (March 2017) include : (1) 31 588 farmers (of which 15 530 women) have improved their agricultural productivity; (2) all 15 cooperatives have made efforts to increase gender sensitive institutions and management capacity through the integration of women in the cooperative committees (women make up 48% of leadership positions) and the implementation of a functioning gender committee at each cooperative; (3) the members’ share of all 15 cooperatives increased over the project from an average of $48 USD to $82 USD; (4) rice and maize production increased by more than 50%. The rice production rose from 5.1 tons per hectare to 7.7 tons per hectare. As for the maize production it rose from 2.5 tons per hectare to 4.25 tons per hectare; (5) 24 partnerships were developed by co-ops in processing of agricultural production of maize (14 partnerships) and rice (10 partnerships); and (6) 11 new adapted products and services to members of co-ops were created. These results contributed to equitable access and opportunities to agricultural productivity and production increased incomes for women and men with decreased disparities between high and low incomes and enhanced co-operative resilience.