NAEB to invest Rwf 1.3 billion to upgrade cold rooms for agricultural exports

By The Inspirer.

The National Agricultural Export Development Board (NAEB) plans to invest over Rwf 1.3 billion in the construction and rehabilitation of cold storage facilities as part of efforts to reduce post-harvest losses and improve the quality of Rwanda’s agricultural exports.

The investment falls under the “Export Logistics Development” project, which aims to strengthen the country’s capacity to store, process and transport agricultural produce in line with international export standards.

For the 2026/2027 fiscal year, the project has been allocated Rwf 1.31 billion, focusing on the expansion and rehabilitation of cold rooms and pre-export handling infrastructure.

However, concerns have been raised over the performance of existing facilities. Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources (MINAGRI) data shows that in the 2025/2026 fiscal year, the project was allocated Rwf 1.92 billion, but only Rwf 835 million (43%) was utilized.

During parliamentary scrutiny of the draft 2026/2027 national budget, lawmakers questioned the functionality of several cold rooms, citing cases where some facilities remain idle or underutilized despite significant investment.

MP Sarah Kayitesi cited cold rooms in Musanze, Rulindo (Muyanza), and Ngoma, saying some are not operating as intended and calling for clearer accountability in their management.

She also pointed to cases in which facilities handed over to private operators, including one in Gatsibo District, have remained unused.

MINAGRI Permanent Secretary Dr. Olivier Kamana acknowledged the challenges, noting that some facilities were installed in unsuitable locations or fitted with outdated technology, affecting their performance.

He said a nationwide assessment is underway to determine which facilities require relocation, rehabilitation, or technological upgrades to improve efficiency and reduce agricultural losses.

Agriculture Minister Dr. Telesphore Ndabamenye added that government is working with the Africa Cooling Center to introduce modern cooling technologies aimed at improving the performance of cold rooms and encouraging greater private sector involvement.

He said the review is ongoing and is expected to guide urgent interventions to ensure better preservation and export readiness of agricultural produce.