Closure of the SEAD West project in Rwanda

The SEAD West project was officially closed on 28 and 29 March 2023!

On March 29, the project partners of SEAD West celebrated the success of the “Strengthening education for agricultural development in the western province of Rwanda” project during the official closing event in Kigali, Rwanda.

Over the past 4 years, the SEAD West project has carried out many activities to strengthen the agro-tourism value chain in the western Rwandan province of Karongi. It was a journey with ups and downs, where the Covid-19 pandemic caused serious delays in the project and obstacles that had to be overcome. Through their own responsibility and close collaboration between MSM, the Rwanda Development Board (RDB), Holland Greentech (HGT), IPRC Karongi, Rwanda Polytechnic, the University of Rwanda, and Dutch consortium partners Q-Point bv., HAS, and Aeres, the project was able to achieve its intended results.

Project achievements in a nutshell:

Accredited Advanced Horticulture Degree program developed with 47 enrolled students at IPRC Karongi
Realization of the services, training, and innovation center for agri-tourism (STIC)
Carried out 65 training activities
Trained over 200 staff and teachers
Reached 1000+ farmers, SMEs, and cooperatives with extension trainings
Developed and presented 5 research and innovation papers
Better-equipped students with practical experience for the job market
Farmers, cooperatives, and agribusinesses have access to training locations and knowledge
The STIC has strengthened partnerships between academia, government, and industry
Crop production has started in STIC Agrizone and GS Gisovu greenhouse.