Albert Nkundabagenzi started his organic farming career after he earned his Social Sciences Bachelor’s degree. He wanted to gain hands-on experience so he chose to join the six-month agroecology training programme at the Songhaï Centre of Excellence in Porto-Novo Benin which United Nations designates as an institute for sustainable agricultural practices.
The Songhaï model operates through an organic approach which generates no waste while implementing a system that recycles organic materials and uses both renewable energy and aquaculture while raising crops and livestock. Nkundabagenzi used this method to return to Rwanda where he purchased land in Ngoma District to carry out its principles.
He created an integrated organic farming business called Ferme du Lac which began its operations in 2015 and operates on a two-hectare site located in Rulenge Sector. The farm operates a system that combines crop production with livestock farming and beekeeping and fish farming which enables all activities to enhance each other.
Nkundabagenzi reports that organic farming methods have produced substantial productivity gains. Maize production in 2018 produced 900 kilogrammes per quarter hectare which increased to approximately 1.5 tonnes in 2024 for the same area of land. Cabbage production has experienced significant advancements because head weights increased from one kilogramme to a range between 2.5 and 3 kilogrammes.
He believes that these improvements occurred because organic fertilisers and inputs have been used for a long time which enhanced soil fertility. The farm utilizes approximately 1.5 tonnes of organic fertiliser for each quarter hectare of land which is mostly produced on the farm. The farm uses crop residues as animal feed while converting animal waste into organic manure and nutri-rich water from fish ponds serves as irrigation water.
Nkundabagenzi explained that their organization focuses on more than just producing food. The organization exists to enhance farmers’ living standards while creating sustainable solutions for the future.
The Participatory Guarantee System PGS provides Ferme du Lac with a local organic certification system which enables them to establish market credibility. The farm obtained PGS certification yet Nkundabagenzi observes that consumers do not recognize organic labels which creates challenges for the farm to sell its organic products in comparison to traditional products.
The farm has educated approximately 150 farmers about organic farming methods who will most likely seek PGS certification next. He warns that organic farming demands time while chemical-based systems deliver immediate outcomes that lack sustainability.
The organization manages seed production and pest and disease control by using natural methods that they handle themselves. The methods used include intercropping with pest-repellent plants and applying organic plant-based treatments along with compost and liquid fertilisers and biochar. Farmers use biochar which is created by heating organic materials in low-oxygen conditions to enhance their soil structure and ability to hold nutrients.
Farmers face weather-related difficulties which include confronting diseases that occur when fungal infections spread. The farm creates a planting schedule which prevents sensitive crops from being grown during times of heavy rain.
Organic agriculture is increasingly becoming popular among farmers.
Dieudonné Sindikubwabo who leads the Rwanda Organic Agriculture Movement ROAM programs believes that organic agriculture develops into valued investment chances when it receives proper backing. Urban markets show rising demand for organic products because locally bred chicken and eggs fetch premium prices.
He explained that organic agriculture enables food products to enter international markets because those markets have established more stringent rules about chemical residues. The sector encounters several problems which include public unawareness about organic products and high expenses for certification and insufficient organic inputs and a lack of specific regulations.
Rwanda improves soil health through organic fertiliser production which helps farmers boost their agricultural output. The Rwanda Agriculture and Animal Resources Development Board RAB reports that the number of farmers using organic fertilisers reached 89.1 percent in Season 2025A which represents a rise from 48.2 percent in 2017. The PSTA 5 plan expects organic fertiliser production to increase at a steady rate until 2029.
This article draws on an original report published by The New Times (Rwanda).