(Hello Africa) "Red gold" connects Rwandan farmers with consumers in China

In Nyagatare, a district in Rwanda's Eastern Province, Gashora Farm PLC grows more than just chili peppers. It has been cultivating a story of agricultural transformation and intercontinental cooperation.

by Xinhua writers Ji Li, Frank Kanyesigye

NYAGATARE, Rwanda, June 14 (Xinhua) -- In Nyagatare, a district in Rwanda's Eastern Province, Gashora Farm PLC grows more than just chili peppers. It has been cultivating a story of agricultural transformation and intercontinental cooperation.

The farm's link to the market in faraway China began in 2018, when Managing Director Dieudonne Twahirwa attended the China International Import Expo in Shanghai.

"We saw strong demand for Rwandan dried chili," Twahirwa said. The following year, his participation in the China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo further boosted his confidence.

In 2024, Gashora Farm, which is headquartered in Kigali, the capital, partnered with HAIC -- Hunan Modern Agriculture International Development Co. Ltd, a subsidiary of Hunan Cereals, Oils & Foodstuffs Import & Export Group (Hunan COF) -- to launch the Rwanda-Hunan Chili Pepper Industry Demonstration Project.

Under a contract farming model, the project covers 100 hectares and spans the entire value chain -- from seedling cultivation to export. In the first season after the deal was signed, 200 tons of dried chili were shipped to China.

"The Chinese market offers more than orders. It brings stability and investment," said Twahirwa.

The project also benefits local communities. The farm employs 15 permanent staff and up to 1,000 seasonal workers at harvest time.

One worker, Eric Hagirimana, said: "I earn 2,500 Rwandan francs (about 2 U.S. dollars) daily, and have bought two cows."

Jacqueline Mukantagara, a mother of four, also works at the farm. "This job helps me buy essentials and pay school fees," she said.

Agronomist Aloys Ngambwa said the farm has centralized seedling nurseries and employs modern pest control. Improved techniques have helped it better cope with climate change and irrigation challenges.

Rwanda's favorable climate, affordable labor force, and efficient government procedures support the project's growth, Twahirwa said.

Chinese partner Li Ming, African business manager of Hunan COF, oversees planning, shipping, and coordination. "We faced cultural and management differences initially," he said, "but have found common ground."

Yields surpassed expectations, reaching 2.5 tons per hectare. Rwandan chilies have entered Chinese cities, including Qingdao, Chengdu, and Changsha, through wholesale markets, gaining consumer recognition.

HAIC's "Mo La Ge" chili sauce, made from Rwandan peppers, sold out immediately at a China-Africa shopping festival. Meanwhile, Chengdu hot-pot seasoning companies have started using Rwandan chilies, a sign of the produce's deeper integration into China's food supply chain.

The fourth China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo, taking place from June 12 to 15 in Changsha, the capital city of Hunan Province, showcases similar success stories and seeks to facilitate new partnerships between African and Chinese stakeholders.

"We aim to expand planting and exports, invigorate the Chinese market, and create more jobs and foreign exchange for Rwanda," said Li of Hunan COF.

"The Chinese market gives us more than buyers. It gives us partners," Twahirwa said. "This partnership is transforming our business and farmers' lives."

The Rwandan chili project crystalizes deepening Africa-China cooperation. The rise of "Mo La Ge" chili sauce is a clear sign of a growing bond between African farms and Chinese consumers.

Across the Asian and African continents, stories of trust, cooperation, and shared growth continue to get written. ■