Nigerian Agripreneur ventures into Rwanda’s chilli farm business

By Bisola Adeyemo

Kweza Farms, a Nigerian Agripreneur firm that specialises in the production of dry hybrid chilli, has revealed plan to venture into Rwanda’s chilli business.

Tuvie Onojaife, founder and Chief Executive of Kweza farms, who is currently based in Rwanda, told ‘Doing Business’ in an exclusive interview that the venture comes at a time when the chilli business looks lucrative and viable in the country despite prevailing defies like access to finance, inadequate raw materials and among others.

Further assessment of the market as well as cultivation are the immediate priorities, according to the experienced agriprenuer.

“Long term goal is to address the $465million dollar Rwandan Agro industry starting with dry hybrid chilli cultivation and export,” he added.

According to Onojaife, Kweza farms is currently working with Gashora Farms to boost the latter’s demand in Asia.

“The Partnership brought about a pilot season all through 2020 and found the business viable and lucrative. This prompted an increase in production capacity in 2021 to 50 tonnes and for the January 2022 season we are on pace to produce 120 tonnes of Hybrid chilli on 24 Hectares of Land in Kayonza district.

“The goal of the partnership is to hit 5000 tonnes of dry chilli production by 2024,” he added.

Rwanda’s chilli market has in the recent past picked up steam, with some experts predicting that it could, in the near future, emerge as the country’s top export product, in the heels of tea and coffee.