If you want to go quickly, go alone.  If you want to go far, go together.

Together you, the Twisungane Cooperative farmers, Frank Mutesa, and Tools for Hope, Inc. (TFH) with help from Rwanda governmental agencies, have gone far in the past five years.  We have further goals which will require us to travel together to reach.

In addition to becoming much better farmers, the Twisungane group members are becoming effective entrepreneurs.  This monthly newsletter discusses new goals to further improve the standard of living for the cooperative members and their surrounding community.

Leveraging Supply and Demand in the Local Food Markets

For practical purposes, harvest times in Rwanda occur simultaneously.  Across the country, in smaller communities, food preservation techniques are lacking i.e., for many years discarded spoiled food exceeded the amount of food consumed.  Immediately post-harvest the food supply is high relative to demand, later the food supply is low relative to demand.  The effect on food prices is to depress them at harvest time and to increase them later as the harvested food spoiled, and edible food became scarcer.  This worsened the financial and health problems facing subsistence farmers.

Frank Mutesa has been working to increase awareness of better ways of achieving food preservation.  Also, he has helped the farmers see that they need to make food preservation one their top priorities.  This combats hunger and adds value to their harvested crops.

All our farmers are following food preservation techniques.  In addition, they have agreed not to sell their harvested crops at once after harvest when prices are typically low.  So, they are now working to improve their preservation techniques and to add value to their crops.  By ‘buying low’ and ‘selling high’ in the local food markets the farmers can improve their overall well-being.

Projects Under Consideration

Tools for Hope Directors, Frank, and the Twisungane group leaders have several projects under consideration.  As discussed previously, the farmers cannot produce enough from their small plots to sustain an adequate lifestyle.  There is little opportunity for them to enlarge their landholdings and similarly there is little opportunity for full-time, steady (formal) employment.  Therefore, non-agricultural, income producing projects take on increased importance in improving their lives.  TFH will supply (interest free, no recourse) funding for their projects where the projects are well thought out i.e., where there is a basic business plan showing a ‘road-map’ to success for the project.

Some projects under discussion are.

• Purchasing a second motorbike taxi: Such transportation is popular everywhere in Rwanda.  Their first motorbike taxi business is working well even with the COVID-19 travel restrictions.   Many in the group are familiar with such taxi operations.  TFH has agreed to loan funds for a second motorbike once the Twisungane group has repaid one-half of their original loan.  This is based on our belief that the group can manage the added loan repayment burden because of their reliable performance with the first taxi i.e., repayment has been particularly good, they have kept the motorbike in good condition, and have met all legal / administrative requirements.
• Raising Pigs and Poultry:  The business plans for these two projects are under development.  There are resources available to Frank and the farmers to address the basic questions a business plan should address.

 See for example   https://www.thepigsite.com/country/rw and https://www.thepoultrysite.com/country/rw

Those and similar resources (academic and governmental) can supply information and best practices for the farmers e.g., Rwanda Pig Farmers’ Association and the Rwanda Poultry Association.

Sewing: The group has found three ladies who have earlier experience with sewing.  The proposal for the sewing project thus far, is simply to buy three sewing machines.  TFH will work with Frank and the group to refine the project plan.

TFH believes that skill in producing practical business plans is crucial to the long-term success of the Twisungane Cooperative.  With a good business plan the cooperative should be able to secure financing for all their future projects.

 TFH encourages a basic business plan addressing the following in adequate detail.

• The goals of the project
• How the business will make money
• What the project needs to get started
• The operating budget
• Customer Identification
• How the project will reach customers its
• The effect of competition
• Outline project strengths and weaknesses
• How the project measures success

Fruit Trees

In addition to projects which may produce incomes in the near-term, Frank is encouraging the farmers to plant fruits trees on their individual farms.   Frank discusses with them the benefits of having fruits trees in their compounds and on their farms as well.  In Rwanda there is a huge demand for fruit.  Rwanda relies on imports for mango, oranges, apples, passion fruit, and many other fruits.  Research shows the soil of Rwanda will support these types of fruit trees.

The Way Forward

This COVID-19 is still hindering some progress about the sustainable development journey, because of some restrictions including lockdowns and curfews in Rwanda.  But slowly the government is trying to bring the life back to normal and many people have taken their COVID vaccines doses therefore we believe things will be better soon.

 

Introduction

Frank Mutesa, Tools for Hope (TFH) Rwandan agricultural mentor, continued to train and encourage the Twisungane Cooperative farmers.

During March, the most important agricultural activities were weeding, pest, and pathogen control.

During April we expect to begin the clean water treatment trials, with the consent and approval of the Twisungane Cooperative leadership.

Frank continued encouraging food preservation in the Twisungane community to ensure they are not losing their yield due to lack of proper preservation.

TFH and cooperative representatives continued discussions on projects enabling sustainable development e.g., an added motorcycle taxi, and sewing machines for a tailoring business.

 

Weeding, Pests and Disease Control Techniques

When weeding is not done on time farmers can lose more than 50% of their yield, as weeds compete with their crop for nutrients necessary for crop growth.  To reach sustainable and decent quality production in agriculture they employ specific and frequent management methods for crop growth.  Management involves deciding which activities to follow in each stage.  TFH continues to train and encourage farmers in all those aspects.

In March, the most important agriculture activities are weeding, pest, and disease control.  Many of our farmers cultivated beans in this season and the weeding activity was done using a hand-held hoe.  This is an important activity in agriculture, because if not done on time, then farmers can lose more than 50% of their yield, as weeds compete with crops for nutrients.

TFH also helps farmers in detecting and finding deficiency symptoms in their crops.  Frank mentors them in differentiating between nutrient deficiencies by field observations and, pest and disease damage to the crops.

Frank’s primary role is to encourage good management.   To that end he explains to our farmers the danger of not doing the weeding on time and its importance in agriculture and crop production.  Weeds are an important biotic constraint to crop production because they compete with crops for the same resources i.e., water, nutrients, light, and carbon dioxide.  Frank is simplifying the scientific language for local understanding and is happy that our farmers have understood these concepts.  Farmers have understood that weeds can be the alternate hosts for crop pest and pathogens, and they are the major yield reducing factors.  This knowledge is very important to farmers and it is good that they put this knowledge in practice.

 

Clean Water and Food Preservation Technologies

In Rwanda, an estimated 57% of the population has access to safe drinking water within 30 minutes of their homes.  The issue of available, clean water is significant for our community.  Presently, they boil their water to make sure bacteria are killed. Boiling their water is expensive for smallholder farmers and poor families.

TFH is trying to supply a solution for this issue.  Our proposed solution is based on using specially manufactured ceramic filter units.  The units are inexpensive and last for several years with little to no maintenance.  The input water can come from mud puddles or polluted streams.  We have 3 such ceramic water filter units to be evaluated by the farmers.

As always, we have discussed this with our farmers.  They are asking for more explanations about how the ceramic filtration system works.  Some of them have used mud pots in the past to filter water, and they think that our proposed ceramic filters are in some way like those mud pots.

Frank spends the necessary time with the farmers to answer their questions and to explain how the proposed system will work.  (the ceramic filters are impregnated with silver to kill pathogens in the water, the filters also are made with holes small enough to filter out pathogens and still allow water to flow through; such filters are highly effective.  TFH proposes to add a step to ensure that the filtered water is pathogen free i.e., via a solar disinfection technique)

Frank also continued his discussions with the farmers on the issue of food preservation.  This is one of the TFH high priority goals towards sustainable development.

The oldest methods of preservation are drying, refrigeration, and fermentation.  More modern methods include canning, pasteurization, freezing, irradiation, and adding of chemicals.  Our farmers are now using drying and fermentation (sour milk) systems and adding chemicals to aid in preservation.  TFH encourages farmers to keep using the safest ways of preservation according to their capability and financial means.  Most of our farmers lack the financial means to apply the modern methods of preservation and lack of modern and advanced packaging materials e.g., canning or pasteurization.

 

Non-Agricultural Enterprises for Sustainable Development 

TFH and Twisungane farmers agreed together that, the development of smallholder farmers cannot just be achieved with agriculture alone.  Although their agriculture is improving day by day, however because of the size of their land and lack of modern technologies, agricultural development for them is extremely limited.

They need other, non-agricultural alternatives.  TFH and the farmers continue to discuss and investigate other business channels that Twisungane cooperative may engage in e.g., their transportation business, selling small items that are consumed in the community.  They are also focusing on businesses that our women can engaged in.  They are now discussing the tailoring business.

The cooperative members and Frank are encouraging TFH (USA) to supply support to buy three sewing machines and another motorcycle for the taxi business.  TFH supplies such funding when the farmers present a workable business plan and loan repayment agreement.

 

The Way Forward

Twisungane farmers are doing their best to plan for their future with the help of TFH.  Frank is now collaborating with the farmers to develop the necessary business plans as bases for the support to continue expanding their business and be able to take care of other pending projects.

 

Introduction

Tools for Hope, Inc. (TFH) magnifies donor support by combining it with profits from Rwandan small-holder farmer run enterprises.  Each dollar donated to TFH is multiplied by incomes from businesses mentored by TFH and started with no-interest loans from TFH.  Thank you for helping to make a positive difference in the lives of the Twisungane group families.

During the current pandemic it is especially important for the Rwandan farmers to use the best agricultural methods to secure a stable, nutritious supply of food.

The Twisungane cooperative combines their agriculture activities with non-agricultural activities to make money.  The combination is necessary, and often the only barrier to malnutrition / starvation, because at best the small-holder farmers cannot produce enough food or income from their farms to sustain themselves.

Tools for Hope Increases the Impact of Donor Funding

TFH has exceptionally low overhead costs (e.g., no paid employees except for Frank our mentor to the Rwandan farmers, no office rent, web-site fees, etc.).  More importantly however is the remarkably positive impact TFH has on the community with which it works i.e., the Twisungane Cooperative.

TFH lends at zero interest for the length of time needed to ensure the business enterprise can repay the loan and meet all its other obligations based on a business plan agreed to by the farmers and TFH.  In Rwanda currently interest rates for such loans approach 20% annually, and the length of the loans is limited to one year.

Loan repayment funds are kept in our Rwandan bank account (in the name of our employee Frank Mutesa) to be used to help fund future projects.  Loan repayment following the established business plan serves to help train the Twisungane cooperative members in the skills needed to develop and run future profitable businesses.  The goal is for the cooperative to be able to succeed in their businesses without any help from TFH, one day soon.

Currently, Twisungane cooperative members have two income producing projects.  They have a motorcycle taxi business and a goat raising business.  We are in discussions with them to loan funds for another motorcycle for the taxi business and have extended the repayment time by one year for the goats’ loans.  We are also in discussions with them about developing a garment-making and tailoring business plan.

The motorcycle business is doing very well, and the loan is being repaid properly.  Current plans are to loan the funds for a second motorcycle when the group has repaid one-half of the present loan.  Half of those funds will come from our Rwandan bank account which the farmers paid into to repay their first loan.  We extended the time for the farmers to repay the loans for the goats because of the negative financial impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the farmers.  This will allow the goat populations to increase for another twelve months making repayment much easier for the farmers.

Seasonal Planting

February starts agriculture season B, which is characterized by moderate rainfalls.  Crops that do not need a lot of water are mostly cultivated.  Farmers were shown how to use effective systems of cultivation in case they meet demanding situations like heavy rainfalls or less than expected rainfall.  These systems included, mulching, intercropping, ridges, and furrows, digging water reservoirs, integrated soil fertility management, weeding techniques done on time, use of pesticides and small-scale irrigation methods.

 

Many of them are cultivating beans during this season.  They also have banana in their fields.  Frank discovered that they do not manage properly their banana plantings.  Frank visited their farms and give them technical support on how to work / manage their banana plantings and, to show them how to do proper intercropping as well.

Planning Clean Water Issues and Proposed Projects

Twisungane committee members and Frank concluded that as soon as the Madidrops are available we will at once start the clean water trials.

We evaluated ongoing projects and discussed the way forward for other business ideas and projects that can be introduced in the future.

The way forward

Life for Twisungane cooperative is now promising because they have reached the mutual understanding that, they must work together and joining their efforts in planning for the future without fear of starting something new.  They are waiting for the chance to expand their businesses.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Introduction

In January, at its quarterly meeting, the Tools for Hope, Inc. (TFH) Board of Directors decided to extend repayment of the loan for the twenty-two goats to eleven Twisungane families until March 2022.  This allows the farmers an added year in which to grow their goat population, making it less burdensome to repay the loans.  The Board also decided to loan funds for another motorcycle once repayment for the current loan reaches a satisfactory level and, to fund sewing machines for the Twisungane cooperative.  (All TFH loans have zero-interest.)

Trials of the ceramic water filtration systems have started.  Three volunteer families are evaluating the systems.  If the systems are acceptable, TFH will work to help provide each family in the Twisungane cooperative with their own filtration unit.

We have been considering digital innovations and how to introduce them to our farmers.  World-wide there are many innovations (e.g., ‘apps’) that have exciting potential in helping subsistence farmers.  Suitable innovations will help development of rural communities through digital technology and the ‘internet of things.’

During January, we reviewed the existing knowledge base and preferences of the farmers about food preservation.

During January, the seasonal agricultural activities started as usual.  The no-till farming trials were successful.  Now the farmers are using the technique where workable.

Introducing Digital Technology to our Farmers

Digital technology in agriculture may be able to help in areas such as marketing, financial services, crop insurance services, data-driven targeted application of fertilizers and pesticides, securing weather forecast data, climate information, and soil moisture sensors, etc.  Digital technology is getting greater emphasis in African agriculture.  Use of digital technology may seem too sophisticated for smallholder farmers however, we believe that there are strategies we can implement to help the farmers take advantage of digital technology.  For example, we may be able to set up the equivalent of agricultural extension agents to help the farmers in understanding and using internet connected devices such as smartphones.

A first step may be for the Twisungane cooperative to obtain a few smartphones.  In Rwanda, such cellphones cost $100.00 each, plus service fees.  With the phones, smallholder farmers can access more useful information.  Such access can revolutionize how rural communities secure their livelihood.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In Rwanda, most rural communities can access the internet.  In our Twisungane cooperative homes we counted only two smartphones among twenty-two members.  Such smartphones are expensive for our farmers however, we need to show them the advantages in having smartphones for their development journey.

Farmers need prompt and correct information in the same way any small enterprise does.  Smallholder farmers may get information through cell phones such as,

1. weather and climate forecasting from national climatology/METEO agency.
2. market information to buy inputs (seeds and fertilizers) and, to sell their products.
3. irrigation and fertilizer advice for their crops.
4. access crop protection advice and insurance.

Farmer Food Preservation Preferences

Food preservation is a valuable tool that our smallholder farmers can use to manage the small amount of crops they have.  A lot of their harvest is lost due to improper food preservation techniques.  TFH gathered information and made an analysis of the food preservation methods that are more preferred and useful to the farmers’ condition.

Our farmers have their preferences and knowledge in some types of food preservation.  TFH met with them and saw some mismanagement caused by lack of knowledge about food preservation, and lack of proper tools.  Some of the crops which they cultivate can be preserved e.g., maize, beans, cassava, sorghum, Irish potato, and sweet potato.  They are reviving and using traditional preservation methods such as sun drying, salting, and cooling by digging a hole to store crops like cassava and potato, and changing some crops into flour to be used later.

Our Twisungane farmers are still having problems preserving some items such as fruits, and some vegetables.  Our farmers know they lack the knowledge and ability necessary in some of food preservation techniques such as canning, vacuum packing, sugaring, and chilling.

Frank has been teaching farmers the benefits of food preservation such as,

1. Save money – avoid buying more than they can use / preserve.
2. Proper food preservation can help keep some of the food quality.
3. Proper food preservation stops the growth of bacteria in food.

Agricultural Season B Preparations

The agricultural season B started, and farmers were busy preparing for what to plant.    TFH encourages smallholder farmers to incorporate in their planning the PICSA approach (the Participatory Integrated Climate Services for Agriculture approach evaluates current and historical climate information to predict local rainfall for the upcoming agricultural season).

At the beginning of each agricultural season Frank usually visits every one of our farmers to talk to them and to hear what they are planning and give them necessary advice that is tailored to their needs.

TFH is also encouraging farmers to plan together starting within the family (husband, wife, and children), this makes their family bonds stronger and, in doing so they can prosper together.  After learning to plan as a team, they are better prepared to seek more advice from other farmers and, from local government agronomists where available.

Frank checked the possible agriculture inputs like fertilizers / manure, seeds if available and, field preparations.  This included checking their tools that might help them.

The owner of the collective farm that Twisungane usually cultivate, at this time, has taken it back and Twisungane now are doing farming only on their individual farms (also rented).  Frank will follow up and see what TFH can do.

The Way Forward

Farmers need to be introduced to digital ways of getting information to help them in their agricultural and business activities and to improve their overall knowledge to cope with life better.  Smartphones can be especially important in their transition to more modern and productive ways of working.  Food preservation is still an issue and we will put more emphasis and find the best sustainable solution of their farm produce.

 

Introduction

During December, the farmers began harvesting their crops.  Overall, their 2020 yields improved through use of new techniques such as no-till farming introduced by Tools for Hope (TFH).  Research shows that during harvest, Rwandan smallholder farmers lose 40-60% of their yields to improper harvesting and poor post-harvest handling techniques.

Post-harvest handling (PHH) is one of the most important farming activities.  The activities making up PHH are, cooling/drying, cleaning, sorting, packaging, and storing.  Many smallholder farmers however do not perform PHH activities as they should.  Frank Mutesa, Tools for Hope (TFH) mentor in Rwanda, is training the Twisungane cooperative on how to do their PHH properly.  Proper PHH supports our TFH 2020 goal of improving food security for the Twisungane group.

Also, during December, Frank began discussions with the farmers about evaluating the use of ceramic water filters to purify their domestic water supplies.  We plan to ask for three families to volunteer to use the technique.  If successfully adopted by the cooperative, the farmers’ families would have a more readily available, healthier, and more economical potable water supply.

The farmers’ motorcycle taxi business and their goat raising project continue to prosper.

 

Harvest and Post-Harvest Handling

During this past December farmers began harvesting their crops.  Harvest  continued into January 2021 because of different planting times and different crops.  Those who planted beans  harvested in December and those who planted corn/maize during this season will  harvest in January 2021.

Research revealed that during harvest, 40-60% of the yields are lost due to improper harvesting techniques and poor post-harvest handling.  TFH is aware of this and Frank is there to stop that loss from happening to our farmers.  Farmers are adopting the new techniques and are eager to learn more every day.  They have understood and appreciate the value of learning better techniques in their journey to sustainable development.

As one the most important parts of agriculture, PHH can be a life saver considering the demanding work done during agriculture season.  If not well done, it can ruin all the excellent work put in during the agricultural season.

Frank has been working door to door and, field to field looking at and checking on the kind of crops planted.  Based on his observations, he advised the farmers on harvesting issues which included, looking for better tools that can help farmers during harvest and, also how to go about post-harvest handling (PHH) which needs some proper tools, such as good sacks, good tools for sorting, good techniques of transportation because sometimes poor transporting the yield from the field can cause loss of harvest.

Frank reminded the farmers to take diligent care and plan accordingly, to search for tools to help them in the activities, like sacks, bags, baskets, etc.  Frank also showed them how to sort, the sorting is also especially important because there are those harvested crops that can be consumed at once and those that can be stored / preserved to be consumed later or to be sold later.

Frank examined crops in the fields and provided individual farmers with advice on the time of harvest depending on crop and how their crops are doing in the field.  This is important because there were some farmers who harvested too early before the crop matured.  We are happy to say that the farmers accepted all our advice.  Frank discussed his advice together with them because this is our style, we do not impose solutions on the farmers instead we discuss and show them how best they can manage their tasks.

 

Harvesting Various Crops

Harvesting was successful for those who planted beans (climbing beans and bush beans).  Farmers used all the protocols as discussed and Frank supervised some of our farmers.  They were on time with their harvesting as discussed, they had all the tools, and they used all the modern methods of harvesting without damaging the crops.  In the days before TFH help, they used to make many mistakes including damaging the crops during harvest time and thus caused losses of 45% of their entire harvest.  TFH is doing all it can to stop these losses and introduce new and more effective ways of improving farmers’ activities in sustainable ways.  Their farms are small, and they are still using sickles, hand-held hoes, machetes, and their own hands to farm.  However, Frank helps them to use everything they have in a systematic way to save 100% of their harvest.

 

Our farmers were trained on how to achieve good threshing, reaping, cleaning, and sorting of the crops during harvest time.  Some of the farmers are now harvesting beans and we believe by early January they will be done with the harvest.

 

Twisungane Decides Water Treatment Trial Volunteers

TFH and the farmers are always discussing issues that are outside of basic agriculture when there is time.  We want them not to depend on agriculture alone, that’s why TFH has loaned funds for their motorcycle and their goat project.

Frank discussed on how to continue working on the motorcycle taxi activities.  They are depositing the agreed amount to TFH account to pay their loan.  This is a good sign of the committed people and Frank always encourages them to do it in a seamless way so that they can have that ability and experience in requesting other loans.

We have other pending activities that we discussed like working on the water treatment trials, having more loans, and learning the preservation techniques.  Working with the Twisungane group’s leadership we selected three members that will undergo the water treatment trials using the ceramic water filters TFH purchased from a supplier in Tanzania.

Farmers are also grateful for the TFH support and they told Frank to pass along their greetings and their well wishes to the TFH and TFH Board members in America that you will have a wonderful new year 2021 as you continue collaborating with them in this journey of combating hunger and poverty and enter their better future where they will be able to have decent life and forget hunger forever.

 

Our Way Forward

The farmers continue to grow in their knowledge of not only farming techniques but also of economic value creation.  One of the most significant changes that they have made is to value the ‘spirit’ of saving.  Throughout the third world, most impoverished people have no hope for a future and therefore do not save (anything) for tomorrow.

Farming, even with the best techniques, will not be enough to bring the Twisungane group to middle-class income status.  With formal, full-time employment being scarce for them, they will need to create their own off-farm income producing activities.  To help with this, TFH lends funds (at zero interest) and supplies advice to help them develop small businesses (e.g., their motorcycle taxi business).

From Frank: Thank you once again and we wish you a happy new year 2021 as we continue to prosper and aim for the highest in terms of helping those in need to help themselves.