KAYONZA — A youth-led agricultural cooperative in Kayonza District has more than doubled its crop yields, demonstrating how improved farming skills and stronger business management can help farmers increase production and build sustainable enterprises in Rwanda’s drought-prone Eastern Province.
Community Based Conservation Cooperative–Ndego (COBACCO Ndego), based in Ndego Sector, has increased production from three to four tonnes per hectare in 2022 to between eight and 10 tonnes, following capacity-building support from the Rwanda Youth in Agribusiness Forum (RYAF), in partnership with the Kayonza Irrigation and Integrated Watershed Management Project (KIIWP).
The improvement comes in a region where recurrent drought, unreliable rainfall and declining soil fertility have long challenged farmers. KIIWP was established to address these challenges through irrigation development, watershed management and support for more productive and climate-resilient agriculture.
The project promotes crop and livestock intensification, improved water and land management, access to markets and agricultural business development. Its first phase aimed to improve food security and incomes for 50,000 rural households while strengthening their resilience to climate change.
COBACCO Ndego has 59 members, including 39 women and 20 men. Its activities include growing vegetables and fruits, such as chilli peppers and green beans, as well as maize and soybeans. The cooperative also raises tree seedlings for agroforestry, including forest and edible fruit trees, supporting its environmental conservation objectives.
While KIIWP addresses broader agricultural and environmental challenges in Kayonza, RYAF works directly with cooperatives to strengthen their organisational and business capacity. Its support includes coaching leaders on financial management, budgeting, record-keeping, planning and the effective use of cooperative resources.
RYAF also supports farmers in adopting good agricultural practices, improving post-harvest handling, connecting with markets and exploring access to finance. These interventions are intended to improve accountability, strengthen cooperative performance and help farmers turn increased production into more sustainable income.
Beyond farming, COBACCO Ndego creates employment opportunities for people in the surrounding community, extending the benefits of its activities beyond its membership.
The cooperative’s progress earned it second place in the YouthConnekt Awards 2025, recognising its achievements in youth-led agribusiness.
Its experience highlights the importance of combining agricultural knowledge, environmental conservation and sound management to help young farmers improve productivity and build stronger rural enterprises.
