Rwanda's horticultural sector records sharp rise in 2017

KIGALI, Feb. 15 (Xinhua) -- Rwanda's horticultural exports recorded a significant increase in 2017, a top official of the National Agricultural Exports Board (NAEB) said on Thursday.

Speaking at a horticulture event, Bill Kayonga, chief executive officer of the NAEB, said Rwanda earned 21 million U.S. dollars in revenues from its horticulture exports in 2017, up from 12 million dollars in 2016.

"The horticulture sector, that is vegetables, fruits and flowers, in Rwanda witnessed remarkable progress in recent years," he said. "From almost nonexistent five years ago, the sector is now a strong contributor to Rwanda export base."

"We are so proud of the revenues the sector recorded last year," Kayonga said.

He said the Rwandan horticulture industry is still not fully tapped and the country is looking for more investors to explore the young developing sector.

Rwanda targets to raise the horticulture sector's annual export earnings to 140 million dollars by 2020, according to the ministry of agriculture and animal resources. Enditem