Established in 2010, Afrinet Solutions Ltd is a privately-owned company focusing on agribusiness, fund mobilisation, business development advisory, and commodity import and export. Afrinet operates in Ngoma District of Rwanda’s Eastern Province with 12 permanent staff members and around 30-50 part-time employees. The company is establishing their Ngoma Tomato Processing Plant (NTPP, https://ntpp.rw/) subsidiary aiming to support Rwanda’s agricultural transformation goals, focusing on enhancing the value chain of essential crops (like tomatoes) through efficient processing, sustainable farming practices, and technological advancements. This initiative addresses critical needs in the tomato sector, including reducing post-harvest losses, stabilising prices by extending product shelf life through processing, and creating new income opportunities for local smallholder farmers. By sourcing tomatoes from over 10,000 farmers organised in a structured out-growers scheme, NTPP will provide a reliable market, which strengthens local agricultural capacity and economic resilience.

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Establishing a Climate Resilient Tomato Out-growers Scheme for Processing

This project demonstrated an innovative agribusiness model that integrates smallholders into a structured, contract farming-based supply system while strengthening local agro-processing capacity.

CASA supported Afrinet/NTPP in a partnership that aimed to reduce reliance on imported tomato products, enhance national food and nutrition security, and create sustainable market opportunities for rural producers. Central to this purpose was the engagement of up to 10,000 smallholder tomato farmers to be supported through training in good agronomic practices, climate-smart agriculture, post-harvest handling, and basic business management to build resilient and commercially-viable microenterprises.

In parallel, the project sought to position NTPP as a scalable and investment-ready agro-processing enterprise capable of driving long-term sector transformation. Through CASA’s targeted technical assistance, Afrinet/NTPP was supported to conduct a Market Intelligence Study to inform development of a tailored marketing strategy, providing NTPP with a solid understanding of market demand, customer segments, competitive dynamics, pricing structures, and distribution opportunities for tomato products. These outputs have enabled the company to define a clear market positioning and practical marketing approach aligned with its processing capacity and growth ambitions. The marketing strategy is currently at its initial stage of implementation, guiding early market engagement, branding, and sales planning, while serving as a foundation for scaling up product promotion, expanding distribution channels, and strengthening NTPP’s presence in the domestic market as operations mature. CASA support also helped develop a comprehensive business plan, modernise its production and processing operations, strengthen post-harvest handling and logistics systems, and introduce ICT-enabled marketing and distribution solutions.

The core of the business is its smallholder tomato farmers. CASA support for the design and organisation of the contract farming-based tomato out-grower scheme successfully established a structured and inclusive model that formalises relationships between NTPP and smallholder producers. As a result, NTPP has contracted 10,507 tomato farmers, including 4,249 women, providing them with assured market access, clearer contractual terms, and a platform for receiving technical support in production and post-harvest handling. The scheme is currently at its initial stage of implementation, with contracts being operationalised and coordination mechanisms being tested, marking a critical step towards stabilising raw material supply for the processing plant while enhancing smallholder participation and incomes. Climate resilience was embedded through the promotion of sustainable farming practices, the piloting of climate-risk insurance mechanisms, and the establishment of research and development systems to support future product diversification.

Overall, the project was designed to serve as a demonstration model for policymakers, investors, and agribusiness actors, showing how inclusive smallholder integration, local value addition, and modern business systems can collectively deliver economic growth, social inclusion, and environmental sustainability within Rwanda’s tomato value chain. The success of NTPP’s business model will create more and lasting opportunities for tomato producers across the country, increasing individual farmers’ annual incomes and fostering resilience via adaptive responses to climate change as well as in food and nutrition security, with a focus on women’s empowerment. It will also strengthen and stabilise the domestic tomato paste supply chain, reducing the local market price and improving quality. By supporting Afrinet/NTPP, CASA aimed to achieve a transformative impact on the tomato value chain while promoting broader economic and social benefits in Rwanda. At a total project cost of £398,970 (including CASA’s contribution of £79,970 in technical assistance), this 12-month project ran from February 2025 to January 2026.

The Afrinet/NTPP project demonstrates that well-structured partnerships, such as with the CASA Programme, can successfully establish inclusive, climate-resilient agro-processing models that integrate smallholder farmers into commercial value chains. Despite delays and operational challenges, the project achieved significant milestones, including the establishment of the processing plant, contracting over 10,000 farmers, the development of digitalised management and operational systems, and the identification of product ranges and market segments. These accomplishments have laid a strong foundation for sustainable growth, operational efficiency, and future scalability of the NTPP business model.

Key recommendations emerging from the project focus on optimising implementation and strengthening resilience in future interventions. Early and phased farmer training, particularly on GAP, CSA, and post-harvest handling, should be prioritised, alongside robust follow-up mechanisms to ensure consistent adoption. Similarly, contingency planning for equipment acquisition, plant construction, and logistical delays is essential to avoid operational bottlenecks. Integrating early market engagement and value-added product development alongside farmer mobilisation can also enhance early revenue generation and demonstrate business model viability sooner.

Finally, it is recommended that future projects continue to prioritise inclusivity, gender equity, and climate resilience in all operational and strategic decisions. Afrinet/NTPP’s experience highlights the value of combining digitalised management systems with structured out-grower schemes to support both productivity and sustainability. Strengthening partnerships with technical experts, authorities, and market stakeholders will further enable smooth scale-up, replication of the model in other regions, and long-term impact on rural livelihoods, food security, and value addition in Rwanda’s tomato sector.

Updated: March 2026