Rwanda unveils $3.4M Kinigi Horticulture Hub as gateway to major volcanoes park expansion

By The Inspirer.

MUSANZE, RWANDA – August 29, 2025. Rwanda has launched the Kinigi Horticulture Hub, a high-tech farming project for flowers, fruits, and vegetables built on a 1,250-square-meter site on the edge of Volcanoes National Park.

The hub, valued at $3.4 million, is part of a much larger initiative to expand the Volcanoes National Park by 3,740 hectares—an increase of 23 percent of its current size—to provide more space for the world’s endangered mountain gorillas.

The overall expansion project will cost an estimated $230 million over the next 10 to 15 years, funded by the Government of Rwanda, development partners, loans, and grants.

At the heart of the project is the construction of the Smart Green Village, a 50-hectare model settlement designed to host 510 families relocated from areas earmarked for park expansion.

The eco-village will feature solar-powered housing, water recycling systems, and sections dedicated to modern farming, livestock production, and community-based tourism.

“This project shows the direct link between Rwanda’s tourism growth and community development,” said Jean-Guy Afrika, CEO of the Rwanda Development Board (RDB), during the inauguration.

“The goal is to improve livelihoods, create jobs, and especially empower youth and women. When tourism flourishes, so do the people.” He added.

Farming for profits and conservation

The Kinigi Horticulture Hub includes greenhouses, hydroponics, cold storage, and processing facilities. Farmers have already planted bell peppers, tomatoes, and cucumbers—high-demand crops expected to generate Rwf 45 million annually against a management cost of Rwf 11 million.

The hub will be managed by the local cooperative Volcano Community Association, whose 211 members have received training in modern agribusiness, food safety, and cooperative management.

Beyond horticulture, the Smart Green Village will also host poultry, sheep, and pig farming facilities, while the tourism section will promote biodiversity conservation, crafts, and cultural heritage.

Community benefits and shared tourism revenues

Since the launch of Rwanda’s tourism revenue-sharing scheme 20 years ago, 10 percent of park earnings have been reinvested in community projects.

To date, initiatives worth Rwf 18 billion have funded schools, housing, health centers, farming, and conflict-mitigation projects between humans and wildlife.

In the 2024–2025 fiscal year alone, 83 projects worth Rwf 4 billion were implemented in 14 districts.

RDB expects the 2025–2026 allocation to surpass Rwf 5 billion.

As part of the Volcanoes Park expansion plan, RDB also disbursed Rwf 600.4 million each to Musanze and Nyabihu districts, Rwf 450.3 million to Burera, and Rwf 150.1 million to Rubavu, supporting livelihoods around the park.

Addressing pressure on land and wildlife

The expansion of the park, home to some of the world’s last remaining mountain gorillas, aims to resolve long-standing challenges such as land pressure from a growing population and crop destruction by wildlife.

“This marks the beginning of the park expansion journey,” said Northern Province Governor Maurice Mugabowagahunde.

“It will help address land shortages, reduce human-wildlife conflicts, and bring more opportunities to local residents.” He added.

Dr. Telesphore Ndabamenye, State Minister for Agriculture, emphasized the importance of introducing modern technology in farming.

“This is a sustainable solution that will keep productivity high. As production grows, markets will extend beyond Musanze to other districts and even across borders.”

With a balance of conservation, tourism, and community welfare, the Kinigi Horticulture Hub is being hailed as both a symbol of Rwanda’s commitment to protecting its iconic gorillas and a model for how tourism revenues can transform local livelihoods.

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