Addressing Logistical Challenges in Rwanda's Horticulture Exports
The need to tackle logistical challenges, particularly the limited cargo capacity of RwandAir, has been highlighted by the Minister of Infrastructure, Jimmy Gasore. His comments came during a visit by Prime Minister Justin Nsengiyumva to the Gabiro Agribusiness Hub in Nyagatare District, Eastern Province, on August 9.
The Gabiro Agribusiness Hub is a key government initiative aimed at improving food security, reducing trade imbalances, and creating employment opportunities. Covering a total area of 15,600 hectares, with 5,600 hectares already developed, the hub supports various agricultural value chains. Among the seven companies operating there is Kinvest, which has raised concerns about the limitations of air freight capacity.
Kinvest, which grows French beans, passion fruit, chili, and Hass avocados, currently produces 500 tonnes of fresh produce per month. This volume aligns with RwandAir’s current cargo transport capacity. However, as more horticulture exporters emerge both within the hub and across the country, there is an urgent need to expand this capacity to accommodate growing volumes.
Jesse Ratichek, Managing Partner at Kinvest, emphasized that for large-scale farms focused on exports to make significant inroads into major markets, the cargo capacity must be substantially increased. He noted that while Kinvest maintains a positive relationship with RwandAir, the existing infrastructure poses challenges as production scales up.
To address these issues, Kinvest is investing in improved post-harvest logistics, including a charcoal cooling system and energy-efficient cold storage. These measures aim to extend the shelf life of produce and streamline the supply chain. Currently, harvested produce is loaded directly into refrigerated trucks, transported to Kigali for packing, and then flown to European and UK markets using both RwandAir and Ethiopian Airlines.
Ratichek pointed out that direct flights via RwandAir ensure higher product quality, while stopovers with Ethiopian Airlines result in slightly higher rejection rates due to temperature fluctuations. He argued that the solution lies in larger-scale air freighters capable of carrying produce directly to international markets, such as wide-body aircraft that can carry 60 tonnes per flight.
“This would solve a huge number of challenges for us. It will allow the produce to arrive fresher, enable us to process much higher quantities, and attract high-end customers requiring consistency. This will boost our margins and improve the economics of the entire value chain,” he observed.
In response to the growing demand for cargo capacity, Minister Gasore acknowledged the importance of addressing this issue. “We will work together to see how we can adjust, because this is a good problem for us,” he said.
Growth in Cargo Volumes and Strategic Expansion
RwandAir’s cargo volumes have seen significant growth, increasing by 33% from 4,595 tonnes in 2023 to 6,113 tonnes in 2024, according to the 2024 report by the Rwanda Development Board (RDB). This growth has facilitated easier access for exporters to international markets.
Key destinations contributing to this increase include the UK and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), along with increased frequency on regional and international routes. In April 2025, Bosco Gakwaya, Director of Cargo Services at RwandAir, highlighted that the introduction of cargo freighters, additional flight frequencies, and network expansion to strategic markets like Brazzaville and Djibouti played a crucial role in boosting cargo volumes.
Currently, RwandAir operates one dedicated cargo aircraft with a capacity of 23 tonnes. However, with the projected increase in avocado production expected in 2027 and 2028, Robert Rukundo, Chairman of the Horticulture Exporters Association of Rwanda, suggested that further investment in cargo aircraft would be necessary.
Economic Impact and Future Prospects
Rwanda’s horticulture exports experienced a 29.1% increase, reaching slightly over $75 million (approximately Rwf108 billion) in the 2023/2024 fiscal year, up from $58.16 million in the previous year, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources’ annual report.
As the sector continues to grow, addressing logistical constraints will be essential to sustain this momentum. The collaboration between government, airlines, and exporters will play a critical role in ensuring that Rwanda’s horticulture industry remains competitive on the global stage.