Conservation Agriculture & Post-Harvest Tech

Overview

A 5-year cooperative project in partnership with Kilimo Trust scaling conservation agriculture, organic composting, and solar post-harvest crop drying technologies. By training local cooperatives, we aim to improve farm productivity, protect vulnerable soil, and reduce post-harvest grain losses.

Program Objectives

1. Increase adoption of regenerative composting and organic mulch techniques among 2,000+ smallholder producers.

2. Deploy solar-powered crop drying storage structures to lower moisture content below critical thresholds.

3. Strengthen agricultural market access through certified post-harvest value addition.

Timeline & Milestones

Target Timeline

Phase 1 (2022-2023): Stakeholder onboarding, baseline mapping, and setup of 10 pilot composting units.

Phase 2 (2024-2025): Distribution of post-harvest solar dryers and intensive cooperative-led training modules.

Key Accomplishments

Completed baseline assessment in 5 sectors of Rubavu; successfully set up 12 active demonstration farm plots.

Progress Updates

Over 800 farmers have completed the organic soil preparation curriculum. Drying efficiency tests show a 35% reduction in crop spoilage rates.