When TWITEZIMBERE MUSHA Cooperative started in 2018 in Musha Sector , Rwamagana District, farming was sort of far from the steady business members had in mind. Even with their work in vegetable farming, people still faced low yields, seeds that were not really good, few inputs, and an up and down market that made earnings feel like a gamble. For quite a while, harvest season did not automatically mean profit.
Today, though, members talk about a different story. The 116-member cooperative, farming about 12.5 hectares of marshland, now cultivates high-value vegetables like cabbage, beetroot, sweet peppers, carrots, and onions. And, they say, the biggest change is not only the production levels, but also the way they reach markets and sell what they grow.
A turning point came after TWITEZIMBERE MUSHA partnered with Afri-Farmers Market Ltd, a social enterprise that links smallholder farmers to dependable markets while also backing up production systems. Through this collaboration, farmers got improved seed varieties, agronomic guidance, and a more organized market approach that removed the daily uncertainty. On top of that, regular field support helped them fine-tune farming methods and boost productivity.
“Before partnering with Afri-Farmers Market, it was difficult for us to harvest even 50 tonnes from our farming area. Now we are harvesting nearly 100 tonnes from the same land because of the better seeds, technical support, and improved practices,” said Nsabimana Jean Nepo, the cooperative president.
And beyond production, farmers insist that market access is where the real shift happened. Instead of spending time looking for buyers, and then dealing with changing prices, they now work inside a system that feels steadier.
“Previously, we sold at unstable prices and earned very little. Now we have more confidence because there is a dependable market for what we produce,” Nsabimana said.
For members like Mukamana Erena, who serves as an advisor in the cooperative, the effect is also clear at home. “In the past, farming gave us very little. Today, incomes have gone up a lot, and we can support our families much better,” she explained.
Afri-Farmers Market Ltd, supported via the CDAT Innovation Challenge Fund (ICF), partners with cooperatives all over Rwanda to strengthen access to inputs, logistics, and structured markets. The company brings produce together at collection centers, sorts and grades it, then connects farmers to buyers in urban areas using digital tools and e-commerce platforms meant to cut down on market inefficiencies. They also use refrigerated transport to lower post-harvest losses and keep the quality of products during distribution.
For TWITEZIMBERE MUSHA Cooperative, the outcome is visible in both how much they grow, and what they earn. What once looked like uncertain farming is now turning into a more predictable and profitable activity, and members say the difference is not only in the harvest, but in the confidence, they now have to keep investing in agriculture, even when seasons change.