A NEW LOCALLY-ADAPTED FLOWER VARIETY TO BOOST RWANDA’S AGRICULTURAL EXPORTS

Gentian, a new flower variety from Japan has been successfully experimented in Rwanda over the last three years by Bloom Hills Rwanda Ltd, and the first shipment of this variety stems from Rwanda to Europe is expected in few weeks, the company’s officials have announced.

The successful trial of blue color gentian flowers has been conducted on 4ha in Nyacyonga marshland in Kigali. The company says they plan to further expand their venture by growing other varieties such as white or pink color gentian which suit to the Rwandan land as well.

This was revealed on May 14, 2018 during an Export Promotion Ceremony of the first Made-in-Rwanda ‘Gentian’ flower variety held at Japanese Ambassador’s residence in Nyarutarama, Kigali.

This project, run by Bloom Hills Rwanda Ltd with funding from Japan’s Toyota Motor Corporation and MIZUHO Information and Research Institutes, aims at exporting 430,000 stems of gentian flowers per season to Europe by 2020, according to Shungo HARADA, the company’s Managing Director. This will make Rwanda the only supplier of gentian flowers on European market during the winter season which will meet its current demand, he added.

One stem of gentian flower exported is old at between Frw 500 and Frw 700.

The Minister of Agriculture and Animal Resources, Dr Gerardine Mukeshimana, commended the Japanese government for supporting this floriculture initiative in Rwanda.

She added: “We are happy to see that these flowers are adapting to Rwanda’s climate and meeting export quality.”

The minister also took the opportunity to call upon other investors to tap into horticulture opportunities since this sub-sector is one of the country’s priority value chains to ensure the commercialization of the agriculture.

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