Seven years ago, AGRIRESEARCH UNGUKA Ltd was born

Sept. 11, 2025, 12:30 p.m.

Seven years ago, AGRIRESEARCH UNGUKA Ltd was born not in a boardroom, but in the minds of visionary students at University of Rwanda-College of Agriculture, Animal Sciences and Veterinary Medicine (UR-CAVM) who believed that agriculture could be more than subsistence—it could be smart, sustainable, and youth-driven. What began as a bold idea as a student club, AGRIRESEARCH Club , has grown into a nationally recognized agri-tech company, transforming Rwanda’s agricultural landscape through market-oriented research, digital innovation, and inclusive extension services.

From its earliest days, the company set out to challenge the status quo. Through agribusiness incubation, capacity-building programs, and digital tools like  SmartInput  and AGRITrials ,the organization empowered thousands of farmers to make data-driven decisions, reduce input costs, and increase productivity.

Figure: SmartInput  technology Launch at Grand Legacy Hotel, 2023

A Hub of Agricultural Innovation

AGRIRESEARCH UNGUKA Ltd, which sprouted from the AGRIRESEARCH Club, has become a hub of agricultural innovation, particularly focusing on the potato value chain. The company’s research has yielded remarkable results, including the development of innovative planting structures and bio-fungicide combinations to control late blight. This research was recognized among the best climate-smart potato research projects in Africa by the African Potato Association at the 12th African Potato Association’s triennial conference, held in Lilongwe, Malawi, from June 27 to July 1, 2022.

AGRIRESEARCH UNGUKA Ltd conducted various game-changing research projects, including the grafting of potatoes and tomatoes for double harvests in small spaces, and staking beans with thread stakes, a high-yielding, environmentally friendly approach.

The innovative solutions deployed by AGRIRESEARCH UNGUKA Ltd have established it as a prominent player in agricultural research and extension in Rwanda. The company has won the Best Exhibitor Award three times in a row at the Rwanda Agriculture Show: in the Research category (2022 and 2024) and the Youth category (2023) during the 15th, 16th, and 17th editions of the show.

Figure: In three consecutive years, AGRIRESEARCH UNGUKA has been awarded as best exhibitor in Rwanda Agriculture show

In June 2025, AGRIRESEARCH UNGUKA Ltd was awarded as the best implementing partner in the EU funded horticulture project ‘Catalyzing market prospects for horticulture smallholders and MSMEs,’ implemented by Tearfund and African Evangelistic Enterprise (AEE). This milestone recognizes our role in delivering innovative solutions and transforming Rwanda’s agricultural sector. The project served over 30,000 beneficiaries nationwide, highlighting our reach and commitment to sustainable development.

In its sixth year, the company initiated the Agricultural Green Research and Innovation Park Initiative (AGRIPI), Rwanda’s first green research and innovation center dedicated to developing and testing technologies and practices for regenerative agriculture and eco-friendly post-harvest solutions. Through a robust public-private partnership (PPP), AGRIPI convenes researchers, academia, entrepreneurs, and farmers to create Rwanda’s first comprehensive agricultural innovation ecosystem. This ecosystem is anchored by a state-of-the-art, one-stop center that physically and digitally integrates research facilities, training spaces, demonstration farms, and business incubation services under one roof.

AGRIPI now serves as a blueprint for collaborative innovation. Under this model, AGRIRESEARCH UNGUKA Ltd—working in partnership with ROAM, RCCDN, and YALTA Rwanda—organized the 2nd National Agroecology Symposium on 10th July 2025, convening stakeholders from across Rwanda and beyond to shape the future of regenerative agriculture.

In collaboration with Rwanda Agriculture and Animal Resources Development Board (RAB), AGRIRESEARCH UNGUKA also established a seed production hub under AGRIPI, set to be implemented on over 15 hectares starting in season 2026A. This initiative will strengthen food security and promote farmer autonomy.

But Year Seven is not just a celebration—it’s a turning point;

With the launch of its Strategic Plan 2030, AGRIRESEARCH UNGUKA is charting a bold course toward transforming Rwanda’s agricultural sector.

Every bold vision needs a compass. To ensure the successful execution of its Strategic Plan and advance the company’s mission of empowering farmers to become healthy and wealthy through innovative agricultural solutions, AGRIRESEARCH UNGUKA has established a high-level Advisory Board composed of national and continental experts.

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