UNILEVER TEA RWANDA PROJECT INAUGRATED IN NYARUGURU DISTRICT

The Minister for Agriculture and Animal Resources, Dr. Gerardine Mukeshimana has on December 05, 2017 officially inaugurated the exciting new Unilever tea project in Nyaruguru District. The function was also witnessed by Paul Polman, the CEO of Unilever Group.

Unilever Tea Rwanda signed an agreement with the Government of Rwanda in May 2016 to invest over $30 million over the next four years in developing two large scale tea sites in the sectors of Kibeho and Munini as well as a processing factory. Development started earlier this year with the first planting in October with 2.5 million tea plants ready in nurseries for the planned expansion.

Around 1000 jobs will eventually be created at the two tea sites, and the Unilever factory will support the region’s economic development with training support and a route to market for local farmers. Around 70% of the 10 kilotonnes of tea exported each year by Unilever Tea Rwanda in future will come from smallholder farmers, transforming their lives through sustainable agriculture. When the project is fully operational, around 3,500 hectares of smallholder tea will be planted.

The UK Department for International Development and The Wood Foundation Africa are assisting Unilever with this ambitious and transformational smallholder development programme.

Paul Polman, CEO of Unilever, said: “This project is further demonstration of Unilever’s commitment to a long-term sustainable business model that creates value and shared prosperity. Our investment in Rwanda’s tea industry will bring our great tea brands together with Rwandan smallholder farmers, who will benefit from a secure route to market and sustainable livelihoods for many years to come.”

Sarah Metcalf, Head of DFID Rwanda said “The UK is proud to be supporting the livelihoods of Rwandan smallholder farmers through this innovative partnership with the Government of Rwanda, Unilever and The Wood Foundation Africa. Our frontloaded contribution (£4.85m/ RWF6.46bn) to this project has enabled TWFA to setup and run an expert tea services company that will support up to 1000 farmers who will supply the Unilever factory.”

Minister Mukeshimana urged the farmers to take advantages of this great investment to improve their livelihoods.

The Minister said: “Our country’s achievements such as security, good governance, integrity and uniqueness of Rwandan people have added value to our land. And this conducive environment attracts investors to do their business here with confidence. Therefore, we should strive to keep the pace forward, and sustain what we’ve been able to achieve so that we can attain the next level of our development.”

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