Iwacu Bakery benefits from SAIP’s funding initiative

RWANDA – Iwacu Bakery Solution, a Rwandan bakery specialising in fortified baked goods made with pumpkin, has expressed profound gratitude to the Sustainable Agricultural Intensification and Food Security Project (SAIP) for its invaluable support.

SAIP is funded by the Global Agriculture and Food Security Program (GAFSP) through the World Bank and is implemented by the Single Project Implementation Unit (SPIU) of the Rwanda Agriculture and Animal Resources Development Board (RAB).

The project aims to enhance agricultural productivity, improve market access, and strengthen food security for targeted communities. 

So far, SAIP’s grants have empowered more than 45,000 farmers in its first phase, with nearly 51% of the allocated funding distributed, and 31% already invested in various initiatives.

In 2021, Iwacu Bakery Solution received a SAIP matching grant of approximately 100 million RWF (US$70,000), which facilitated the construction of a modern processing facility and the acquisition of essential bakery equipment. This funding was split such that SAIP contributed 70% while other beneficiaries covered 30%.

Valens Ruhorimbere, the CEO and Founder of Iwacu Bakery Solution, started the company in 2020 after earning a degree in Food Science. He observed that local pumpkin farmers in his area struggled to find a consistent market for their produce.

“My goal was to add value to pumpkins, create stable market systems, and promote their nutritional benefits, as many people consume baked products, but few eat pumpkins,” stated Ruhorimbere.

Recognizing the nutritional advantages of pumpkins, he proposed incorporating them into baked items like bread, doughnuts, and cakes to enhance their popularity and availability.

“Pumpkins are naturally rich in carotene (Vitamin A) and sugars, reducing the need for artificial colorants and sugar additives, which are often associated with non-communicable diseases like cancer. Their high fiber content also aids digestion, supporting efforts to combat stunting and malnutrition in the region,” added Ruhorimbere.

With limited financial resources, Ruhorimbere initially operated on a small scale and faced challenges related to quality control, production capacity, and nutritional assessment.

Currently, Iwacu Bakery Solution produces approximately 30,000 units of bread, doughnuts, and cakes daily, utilizing 250 kilograms of pumpkin, creating jobs for eight permanent staff members and an additional 15 workers during peak demand periods.

Iwacu Bakery Solution has enhanced the local pumpkin value chain by sourcing raw materials locally and providing training on good agricultural practices to improve professionalism and the quality of harvests.

Despite its success, Iwacu Bakery Solution faces logistical challenges, particularly in efficiently distributing its products, which can lead to delays and missed market opportunities.

However, the future looks promising for the bakery as it is exploring additional uses for pumpkins, such as extracting cooking oil from their seeds to further optimize the value chain.

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