Labour Day: Cassava Innovation Platform (KIAI) Cooperative promotes professionalism and development of members

By Elias Hakizimana.

Gatsibo-based cassava cooperative dubbed “Cassava Innovation Platform’ (KIAI) celebrates 18 years of existence in promoting cassava value chain in Rwanda.

The cooperative has also promoted employee professionalism and social-economic development through hands-on trainings and accountability at workplace.

Jean Paul Mutuyimana, one of the KIAI Cooperative members says that he got an opportunity to be a cashier of the cooperative before he was promoted to other responsibilities.

He thanks the cooperative to train him in cassava processing value chain from the roots to the last product ‘flour’.

“Since I joined KIAI in 2017, I got basic knowledge on how to process cassava flour. One of the factory partners ‘SPARK/MINAGRI’ also trained me in cassava value chain at an advanced level where I managed to learn about quality seeds.” Mutuyimana said.

He thanks KIAI to have increased his capacity in financing and accountancy besides capacitating him in cassava value chain.

“I specifically thank the cooperative to skill me in terms of financing and accountancy as well as cooperative management.” He added.

Speaking on behalf of the cooperative authority, Shukuru Mugabo, Senior accountant manager of KIAI Cooperative said that they have managed to help members build resilience and job confidence since they started activities in 2010.

“We started with 231 members of whom 58 percent are women and 42 percent men. We recruited various employees to fill senior management positions including 7 permanent staffs. We started processing cassava flour since then until now.” Mugabo said.

The factory has the capacity to process 10 tons of cassava until packaging level.

As Rwanda celebrates the International Labor Day on May 1, 2022, Mugabo is thankful that the cooperative helped its members to progress socially and economically.

“Today, are happy that all the employees and cooperative members have increased knowledge and capacity to develop their families.” Mugabo said.

theinspirerpublications@gmail.com