INADES Formation Rwanda marks 50 years as farmers recount gains in production and livelihoods

By Prince Boris Cyubahiro.

KIGALI, Rwanda — August 28, 2026 — When Nyandwi Jean Claude began working with INADES Formation Rwanda, producing 80 kilograms of maize was a significant achievement. Today, he says he can harvest about 600 kilograms and is targeting 800 kilograms.

For Theopista Nyiramahoro, a coffee farmer from Kirehe District, production has increased from about 10 tonnes to 50 tonnes.

Their stories were among those shared in Kigali on Friday as INADES Formation Rwanda marked 50 years of working with farmers and rural communities, highlighting the impact of agricultural training, knowledge and partnerships on livelihoods.

The Golden Jubilee brought together farmers, government representatives, INADES leaders, development partners and other stakeholders to celebrate the organisation’s contribution to Rwanda’s agricultural development.

For Nyandwi, the transformation began with training on improved farming practices.

“INADES came to us when we were practising agriculture in a disorganised way. Today, we practise specialised fruit and vegetable farming, which is very different from what we did before,” he said.

He said training in maize production helped him improve his yields and understand agriculture as a source of income.

“I never thought maize could generate money,” Nyandwi said.

He now uses income from his harvest to support household needs, including school fees and health insurance.

Nyiramahoro similarly credited INADES with improving farmers’ knowledge, management practices and access to partners.

“INADES has helped us greatly as farmers, especially through knowledge, better management and connecting us with different partners,” she said.

She said she had received training in coffee production, soil conservation and post-harvest management, as well as guidance on other crops and access to agricultural learning materials.

The resulting increase in production, from about 10 tonnes to 50 tonnes, she said, demonstrated the value of combining knowledge with improved farming practices.

Dr. Olivier Kamana Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Agriculture & Animal Resources (MINAGRI) said INADES’ 50-year journey demonstrated experience, perseverance and commitment to Rwanda’s development.

He urged farmers to embrace technology and new agricultural information while strengthening soil conservation and preparing for changing weather patterns.

He noted that the government was beginning to roll out a soil-conservation programme on 100 selected hectares and encouraged farmers to register for the Nkunganire agricultural subsidy-support programme and prepare erosion-control measures ahead of the rains.

The remarks highlighted activities held earlier in the week at INADES’ agricultural training centre in Gahengeri Sector, Rwamagana District, where farmers participated in preparations for the 2027A agricultural season, including soil conservation, erosion control and organic fertiliser production.

Sena Kwaku Adessou, the African regional leader of INADES Formation, said the Jubilee should be used to prepare for the organisation’s next chapter rather than simply celebrate its past.

“This Jubilee is primarily for the hundreds of thousands of women and men of Rwanda who, for more than half a century, have trusted INADES Formation to transform their daily lives,” Adessou said.

He said INADES had accompanied more than 700,000 beneficiaries in Rwanda, with women accounting for nearly 35 percent, through programmes covering family farming, agroecology, cooperatives, food security, women’s economic empowerment and climate resilience.

Looking ahead, Adessou said INADES would focus on sustainable and climate-smart agriculture, food and nutrition security, value addition and market access, ecosystem restoration, and greater access to financial services for women and young people.

He also called for stronger collaboration among INADES, government, development partners and farmer organisations.

“INADES Formation Rwanda does not age,” Adessou said, describing the Jubilee as a compass for the organisation’s future.

For farmers such as Nyandwi and Nyiramahoro, that future will ultimately be measured in their fields and livelihoods.

Their stories show how knowledge, when combined with opportunity and partnership, can translate into higher production, income and greater confidence in agriculture.

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Related photos:

INADES Formation Rwanda officials and partners attend the organisation’s Golden Jubilee celebration in Kigali on August 28, 2026.