Solid’Africa
Solid’Africa: Advancing nutrition security and economic resilience in Rwanda
Solid’Africa is unlocking new opportunities in Rwanda’s agricultural sector by supporting 4,500 vulnerable smallholder farmers—close to 60% of them women—to adopt sustainable farming techniques that improve soil health and increase crop yields. Their Sustainable Agriculture for Economic Empowerment initiative is designed to boost farm productivity, reduce post-harvest losses, and elevate household incomes.
In a country where 70% of the population depends on agriculture, these smallholder farmers are the backbone of the economy. Solid’Africa, known for delivering more than 100,000 nutritious meals annually to low-income in-patients across Kigali’s public hospitals, is expanding its impact through this initiative.
Through targeted training, access to quality farming inputs, and guaranteed market access via Solid’Africa’s meal programs, the program fosters food security and economic resilience for communities. Partnering with local cooperatives, universities, and government agencies, Solid’Africa is creating a sustainable circular economy that empowers farmers and improves patient care, contributing to a more prosperous future for Rwanda. Learn more about their work by exploring their website.
Photos © Solid’Africa
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A smallholder farming cooperative turns a season of loss into growth
In Nyagatare district, farmers from the CORVNY cooperative saw their rice yields drop sharply after months of water shortages and hailstorms.
Instead of retreating, they regrouped. With Solid’Africa’s support, providing access to premium seeds, fertiliser and technical advice through its sustainable agriculture program, the cooperative managed to cut costs and build savings, and then made a bold decision.
Faced with the loss of nearly 15% of their harvest, the cooperative’s leaders made an unexpected choice. Rather than focusing only on recovery, they invested their limited savings to buy land and construct their first dedicated post-harvest drying area. Until then, members had relied on borrowed plots and temporary sheds to process their crops.
The new site closes a critical gap, protecting grain quality and income from future shocks.
The investment also marks a turning point: a move from subsistence farming to strategic planning. CORVNY already records the highest rice yields among nearby cooperatives, and this new infrastructure positions its 577 members for long term growth.
What began as a difficult season has become a lesson in resilience, proof that when local producers have the tools and autonomy to decide their own priorities, they can turn crisis into opportunity and build stronger food systems for the future.
Solid’Africa is reimagining food systems in Rwanda by linking smallholder farmers to a guaranteed market that supplies nutritious hospital and school meals. Through training in regenerative agriculture, the initiative helps farmers increase yields and household income while improving the quality and sustainability of food provided to patients and students. It’s a model that tackles poverty and malnutrition simultaneously, transforming local production into community health and resilience.