Rwanda Leverages Beans to Transform Nutrition and Farming

A renewed Memorandum of Understanding between Rwanda’s Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources (MINAGRI) and the Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT marks a unified push toward strengthening bean-led nutrition, resilience, and sustainable livelihoods across the country.

Dr. Mark Cyubahiro Bagabe, Minister of Agriculture, underscored the strategic value of beans:

“Beans are not just a food for Rwanda—they are nutrition, income, and resilience in a single crop.”

He emphasized how this collaboration builds on Rwanda’s earlier successes with biofortified beans and innovations in sustainable farming. Citing the soil as fundamental to agriculture, Dr. Bagabe stated:

“We are shifting toward sustainable methods, like nano-fertilizers and plant-based post-harvest agents, to keep our soils alive—and our bean harvests healthy.”

Dr. Wanjiru Kamau-Rutenberg, Alliance’s Africa Managing Director, spoke of Rwanda’s leadership in bean-led transformation:

“The likelihood of success is tremendously high when you work in Rwanda. If we pilot something here and it works, it will be adopted across the continent. Rwanda is not just a partner; it is a leader.”

She emphasized the importance of human capital:

“The youth are the asset of our country, but youth without assets become a liability.”

What Makes This Alliance Bean-Centered and Powerful

• Nutrition that Converts
Biofortified beans rich in iron and zinc are embedded into Rwanda’s food systems—often providing up to 80% of the daily iron requirement with no change in diet habits.

• Proven Impacts on Health and Productivity
Studies report that the popular iron-variety RWR2245 yields 20–49% more than traditional beans, increases household consumption and sales, and brings micronutrient-rich food to markets.

A national-level analysis found iron-bean adoption injected about USD 2.5 million into Rwanda’s economy in a single season.

• Uptake and Scale
By 2018, around 20% of beans produced were iron-biofortified, reaching approximately 420,000 smallholder households.

• Strategic Innovation and Resilience
Rwanda has rolled out 13 climbing bean varieties, boosting yields, nutrition, and farmer income—especially critical as farmland shrinks.

The Alliance supports school feeding programs, digital tools, and bean-based climate-smart initiatives to build resilience.