New fruit species planted for the first time in Rwanda

More than 2,100 fruit trees and plants representing more than 30 species, many of which have never been grown commercially in Rwanda, were planted across three future Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Centres of Excellence supported by the Improving skills for holistic employment in modern agriculture (ISHEMA) project. Students, teachers, private sector partners and national and regional authorities joined the effort, which introduced nine apple varieties, almonds, nectarines, dragon fruit, tamarind, cherries, olives, grapes, mandarins, peaches and other high‑value fruits. The Director General of the Rwanda TVET Board (RTB), Mr Paul UMUKUNZI, attended the planting at Gitwe Technical Secondary School, where he encouraged students to embrace the innovation taking shape.

The planting forms part of the ISHEMA project’s broader ambition to transform selected TVET schools into Centres of Excellence. These centres will strengthen practical learning and production, enabling students to acquire skills through real agricultural activities and exposure to the value‑chain.

Across the three sites, students and teachers worked together to prepare the soil, dig planting rows and plant the young cuttings. The species, many of which are entirely new to Rwanda, will allow students to deepen their understanding of orchard management, soil care and fruit cultivation throughout the seasons.

The activities benefited from strong community engagement. Students organised themselves into teams and took responsibility for each stage of the work, while teachers and trainers supported them with technical guidance. In Gitwe, the event gained particular significance thanks to the presence of the Director General and Deputy Director General of RTB, alongside teachers and private sector representatives.

These messages underlined the purpose of the orchards: they are not only agricultural resources but also symbols of a school system committed to modern, practical and forward‑looking learning.

Introducing species such as nectarines, lychee, olives and almonds has long‑term potential for improving nutrition and creating local economic opportunities. As the orchards mature, the Centres of Excellence will be able to produce diverse fruits and explore processing options including juices, jams, dried fruits or oils. Through these activities, students will gain hands‑on knowledge across the entire value chain — from cultivation to transformation and marketing — preparing them for careers in modern agriculture and agribusiness. The orchards may also inspire neighbouring farmers, who will be able to observe and learn from the new varieties.

The Improving skills for holistic employment in modern agriculture project is funded by the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, and implemented by LuxDev, the Luxembourg Development Cooperation Agency.