In the rolling hills of Rwabicuma Sector in Nyanza District, Southern Province, the story of farmer Gatete John Bosco is inspiring many other farmers. Only a few years ago, Gatete was a typical smallholder practicing subsistence farming—growing just enough to feed his family hardly with little surplus for the market. Today, he has transformed into a thriving commercial horticulture farmer and a powerful example of what can be achieved when smallholders receive the right skills, resources, and business mindset.

Gatete now manages a 9-hectare farm, of which 8.5 hectares are dedicated to high-value fruits including watermelon, passion fruits, raspberries (locally known as gaperi), citrus, and tree tomatoes. His remarkable transformation was made possible through the Sustainable Agricultural Intensification and Food Security Project (SAIP), which strengthened his capacity, enhanced his production techniques, and introduced him to market-oriented agriculture. In Nyanza, he is now widely known as “the passion fruit farmer.”

SAIP’s support became a turning point in Gatete’s farming journey. The project enabled him to expand and improve his watermelon and passion fruit production, providing  him with high-quality seeds, compost, and technical guidance that significantly boosted his yields.

Today, Gatete is celebrating an impressive watermelon harvest, projecting a net income of between RWF 20 million and RWF 25 million from just two hectares this season. His innovative marketing approach—selling watermelons by piece at RWF 4,000, while also offering buyers the option to purchase entire plots for self-harvesting—has expanded his customer base and diversified his revenue streams.

Gatete’s success has not only increased his household income but has also created employment within his community. His farm currently provides permanent jobs to 10 local workers, enabling them to earn a stable income and improve their livelihoods. Through his agribusiness, he is contributing to rural economic growth and demonstrating that agriculture is a viable and profitable profession.

Looking ahead, Gatete’s vision extends beyond primary production. To reduce post-harvest losses and boost profitability, SAIP is supporting him to establish a fruit processing unit for producing juice from passion fruit, raspberries, and sugarcane. The processing plant, valued at RWF 175 million, will enable value addition and open access to more lucrative markets. Gatete is personally investing RWF 65 million in this initiative.

Gatete’s journey proves that with the right support, smallholder farmers can transition into successful agripreneurs, create jobs, and drive community transformation. His story continues to inspire farmers across Rwanda to embrace modern agriculture and view farming as a respectable and rewarding business. He strongly advocates for “agriculture that pays,” a vision that SAIP is helping thousands of farmers nationwide to achieve.