In Rwanda’s Musanze District, Dukomeze Ubuzima Cooperative has become a powerful example of how resilience, inclusion, and the right support can transform lives.
Founded in 2013 with only 62 members, the cooperative has now grown to 516 members — over 380 of whom are people with disabilities. Together, they share a vision of farming not just for survival, but for prosperity and dignity.
For years, members struggled with devastating post-harvest losses. Garlic and onion harvests often spoiled under the rain or while drying on the ground. Women and people with disabilities, who form the majority of the cooperative, bore the heaviest burden.
“Before, I could harvest 5 tons of garlic, but without proper drying space, I would lose hundreds of kilograms — a loss worth five hundred thousand Rwandan francs ($400). Drying was also time consuming, especially in rainy seasons,” recalls Alphonsine Nyirandikubwimana, a cooperative member.
Without storage facilities, farmers were also forced to sell their produce at unfairly low prices to middlemen. Hard work often yielded little reward.
The Kungahara Project: A Turning Point
The breakthrough came with the Kungahara Project, funded by the European Union through Rikolto and implemented by Kilimo Trust. The project equipped the cooperative with a modern drying and storage facility — a game-changer that has:
- Reduced post-harvest losses by ensuring every kilogram harvested is sold.
- Improved efficiency and income for members, especially women and people with disabilities.
- Boosted market confidence by guaranteeing clean, well-dried produce.
“This facility came in handy. Today, every kilo I harvest is a kilo I sell. I can provide for my family,” says Alphonsine.
The facility can dry up to 32 tons of produce per week, serving not only cooperative members but also other farmers in the community. Non-members pay a small fee of five thousand Rwandan Francs ($4) per ton covering a 10-day use of the facility, generating additional cooperative income.
Beyond farming, it has become a community of support — members help each other in times of need, save for future investments, and are now planning a greenhouse project to diversify income.
Today, the cooperative is also a recognized model in potato farming, producing 25 tons per hectare, among the highest yields in the region.
“Our greatest wealth is not just in crops, but in people. Every new member is proof that we are building something sustainable together,” says Jean Damascene Sinzabaheza, Cooperative President.
Despite physical disabilities, members emphasize that ability, not disability, defines their success.
“Disability does not mean inability. In our cooperative, everyone contributes, everyone benefits, and together we succeed,” Jean Damascene affirms.
The journey of Dukomeze Ubuzima shows how the right interventions can unlock resilience and prosperity for smallholder farmers. Through the Kungahara Project and other partnerships, Kilimo Trust remains committed to empowering communities, strengthening resilience, and building sustainable food systems across the region.