As a result of the pandemic over the past two years we have seen a significant number of businesses close and individuals returning to small lot farming. REAP has grappled with how best to respond to this and how to potentially add real value.

 

We are seeking advice - any input is gratefully received and definitely needed!

 

What REAP has:

• A company structure in Rwanda – banking facilities, legal entity, good team of local professionals, export licence through our local partners 

• A company structure in Australia – banking facilities (not sure if we need an import licence)

• Small amount of funds to start the process and carry the risk

• Contacts of local Rwandan farmers

• Contacts of good quality Rwandan IT services – programming, web services, app developers

• Contacts of Australians who may be able to advise (you!)

 

What REAP doesn’t have:

• Knowledge of importing goods into Australia

• Sales channels in Australia

• Understanding of full end to end process of farm or product creation to market

 

Taking all this into consideration we are exploring the following:

Agricultural Exports

• Choosing 1 or 2 agricultural products to import to Australia (potential list below)

• Looking at the supply chain from the farmer, to the packaging, to the branding, to the exporting - all as potential points we can engage local Rwandan businesses.

• Potentially tie our mentoring to these businesses

• Developing sales channels in Australia (B2B or B2C channels)

IT Services

• Selecting 1 or 2 Rwandan IT services - developers and web/brand developers

• Detailing their services, set up pricing framework

• Develop sales channels in Australia

• Support communications and projects

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If you have some advice, ideas, suggestions, pointers or would like to participate in some way please let one of us know. 

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We need help 😊

 

Thanks again for your support!

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All the best,

Peter King: peterfsking@gmail.com

Jan Allen: janallen@reapafrica.com

Bev Cameron: bevcameron@reapafrica.com

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List of potential agricultural exports: 

We have been looking at the different products that are exported from Rwanda and the following list is what is exported often. Depending on what Australia allows in and what the consumers are looking for, we can determine which products REAP can export. Here is a list to start with:

Dry products:

• Chia seeds

• Dry beans

• Teja dry chili peppers

• Coffee

• Tea

• Moringa leaves & powder

• Isombe (dried cassava leaves)

• Cassava flour

• Peanuts

Fresh produce:

• Bird eye fresh chili pepper

• Green beans

• Okra

• Bitter gourd (karela)

• Stevia – we can process this into a dry power in Rwanda

• Pyrethrum

• Bananas/plantains