Chantal Kamashazi is an agribusiness and environmental entrepreneur, and the founder of Mind Valley Rwanda Ltd, based in Mwiri Sector, Kayonza District. Through her company, she transforms waste into fertilizers that boost soil fertility and help farmers increase their yields.
The whole idea of Mind Valley Rwanda Ltd began way back in 2013 while Chantal was pursuing Environmental Chemistry at KIST. Chantal's first attempt at starting the project failed to kick off due to limited funds; still, she lost no hope.
Upon graduation in 2015, she worked with a water company, all the while nurturing her dreams. She later joined a Master's program in South Korea, specializing in organic fertilizer. The research strengthened her knowledge of the field and gained great recognition from the Korean Agricultural Engineers.
“I wanted to create a recognized, legitimate, profitable, and unique business. Through my Master’s research, I realized that waste could be turned into high-quality fertilizer and even help with water purification.” She explains
When she returned to Rwanda, Chantal began producing fertilizer and testing its market potential. Her very first batch of 2 tons passed quality tests and sold out immediately.
“That was when I realized it was possible to produce fertilizer and sell it to farmers,” she recalls.
Winning the Imali Agribusiness Challenge gave her resources, but it also gave her confidence that she could always keep competing and build ventures that benefit the people and environment of Rwanda. Despite challenges like climate change and drought, she continues to innovate, solve problems, and expand her business.
“I launched a campaign against food wastage because most of the waste in landfills is food. While we can recycle it into fertilizer, the priority is to prevent food waste in the first place,” she says.
Her model follows the waste management hierarchy: first, encourage people to avoid food waste; second, redistribute edible food to others or use it as animal feed; and only then, recycle the remaining waste into fertilizer or other eco-innovative products.
Today, Mind Valley Rwanda Ltd produces fertilizers such as Eza byinshi Bio Liquid Fertilizer and Compost, both with natural nutrients restoring soil health and improving yields. Farmers using her products have seen double their harvest.
“If a farmer used to harvest 5 tons of maize per hectare, with my fertilizer they can harvest 8 to 10 tons,she explains.
In the next few years, she intends to scale up production further. Initiatives such as Youth Connect will enable her to produce 5,000 tons of fertilizer within five years and potentially reach 10,000 farmers while venturing into international markets.
Winning the Imali Agribusiness Challenge wasn't just about getting resources; it also gave her the strength to keep competing and building businesses for Rwandans and the environment. Nevertheless, even in the face of global challenges such as climate change and drought, her innovative spirit motivates her in solving problems, growing the organization, and find new business opportunities.
Mind Valley Rwanda Ltd is co-founded with four shareholders and is based in Mwiri Sector, Kayonza District. In addition to fertilizer production, Chantal is also engaged in farming and livestock through the Sustainable Advanced Technology for Climate-Smart Agriculture Model Farm under the Green Agribusiness Network in Africa (GANA HEZA).
Written by Jean Bernard MUKUNDENTE