In the heart of Gahengeri Sector, Rwamagana District, a transformative agricultural initiative is changing the lives of vulnerable women farmers. Thanks to the partnership between Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) and Merry Year International (MYI), the COPALEG Cooperative (Cooperative des Producteurs de Légumes) has been revitalized with modern farming techniques, new infrastructure, and inclusive development strategies.

 Launched in 2023, the MYI-KOICA project focuses on boosting vegetable production while addressing the unique challenges faced by smallholder women farmers. Over 120 vulnerable women have benefited from comprehensive support, including farming education, agricultural inputs, and land provision. KOICA's support—financial, technical, and strategic—has been crucial in ensuring the project's success and sustainability.

Project Goals and Components

This project serves a broader mission: to empower rural women through sustainable agriculture and cooperative development. Key components include:

• Capacity Building: Farmers are trained in modern, climate-resilient farming techniques such as efficient irrigation, organic pest management, and crop rotation.
• Infrastructure Development: MYI-KOICA has constructed cold rooms, storage houses, greenhouses, and improved irrigation systems to preserve produce and increase market access.
• Market Access: By linking COPALEG members to reliable buyers like Proxifresh Rwanda, Pride Farms, and Triple S, MYI ensures that women's produce reaches markets at fair prices.
• Land Support: With the district government's collaboration, each vulnerable farmer receives 5 acres of land—3 in marshland and 2 in hillside areas—suited for growing tomatoes, cucumbers, chilli peppers, mushrooms, okra, maize
• Cooperative Strengthening: COPALEG is supported through leadership training, microfinance access, and community-led governance, promoting self-reliance and unit

Transforming Lives: A Story of Hope

For women like Nirere  Jacqueline, the impact has been life-changing. "Before this project, I had no land, no way to support my family. Paying rent, feeding my children, and covering medical bills was a daily struggle," she shared. Through MYI-KOICA's support, she now farms on five acres, has built a small house, pays her children’s school fees, and contributes to mutual health insurance. She’s also begun saving and gaining financial independence—once unimaginable.

Expertise and Tools for Lasting Impact

Agronomist Niyindorera  Christine plays a vital role in guiding COPALEG members. She provides hands-on training in everything from soil preparation to seed selection and irrigation. MYI-KOICA has also equipped the cooperative with essential agricultural tools such as seed drills, hoes, planters, and drip irrigation systems—enabling members to farm more efficiently and sustainably.

Christine emphasizes sustainability: “We don't just give resources; we help them develop their own solutions. That’s how we ensure long-term impact.”

KOICA's Role: Promoting Global Development and Gender Equality

This project reflects KOICA’s core values—supporting sustainable development, empowering women, and fostering social cohesion through cooperative models. By enabling women to lead, manage, and benefit from agricultural enterprises, KOICA and MYI are not only improving lives but also strengthening rural economies in Rwanda.

The success of COPALEG proves that with the right support, vulnerable communities can become self-reliant, resilient, and prosperous. As the cooperative continues to grow, it serves as a model of inclusive, sustainable development—one farm, one family, and one empowered woman at a time.

  Story by: Joyeuse MUKUNDIYUKURI

In the heart of Gahengeri Sector, Rwamagana District, a transformative agricultural initiative is changing the lives of vulnerable women farmers. Thanks to the partnership between Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) and Merry Year International (MYI), the COPALEG Cooperative (Cooperative des Producteurs de Légumes) has been revitalized with modern farming techniques, new infrastructure, and inclusive development strategies.

 Launched in 2023, the MYI-KOICA project focuses on boosting vegetable production while addressing the unique challenges faced by smallholder women farmers. Over 120 vulnerable women have benefited from comprehensive support, including farming education, agricultural inputs, and land provision. KOICA's support—financial, technical, and strategic—has been crucial in ensuring the project's success and sustainability.

Project Goals and Components

This project serves a broader mission: to empower rural women through sustainable agriculture and cooperative development. Key components include:

• Capacity Building: Farmers are trained in modern, climate-resilient farming techniques such as efficient irrigation, organic pest management, and crop rotation.
• Infrastructure Development: MYI-KOICA has constructed cold rooms, storage houses, greenhouses, and improved irrigation systems to preserve produce and increase market access.
• Market Access: By linking COPALEG members to reliable buyers like Proxifresh Rwanda, Pride Farms, and Triple S, MYI ensures that women's produce reaches markets at fair prices.
• Land Support: With the district government's collaboration, each vulnerable farmer receives 5 acres of land—3 in marshland and 2 in hillside areas—suited for growing tomatoes, cucumbers, chilli peppers, mushrooms, okra, maize
• Cooperative Strengthening: COPALEG is supported through leadership training, microfinance access, and community-led governance, promoting self-reliance and unit

Transforming Lives: A Story of Hope

For women like Nirere  Jacqueline, the impact has been life-changing. "Before this project, I had no land, no way to support my family. Paying rent, feeding my children, and covering medical bills was a daily struggle," she shared. Through MYI-KOICA's support, she now farms on five acres, has built a small house, pays her children’s school fees, and contributes to mutual health insurance. She’s also begun saving and gaining financial independence—once unimaginable.

Expertise and Tools for Lasting Impact

Agronomist Niyindorera  Christine plays a vital role in guiding COPALEG members. She provides hands-on training in everything from soil preparation to seed selection and irrigation. MYI-KOICA has also equipped the cooperative with essential agricultural tools such as seed drills, hoes, planters, and drip irrigation systems—enabling members to farm more efficiently and sustainably.

Christine emphasizes sustainability: “We don't just give resources; we help them develop their own solutions. That’s how we ensure long-term impact.”

KOICA's Role: Promoting Global Development and Gender Equality

This project reflects KOICA’s core values—supporting sustainable development, empowering women, and fostering social cohesion through cooperative models. By enabling women to lead, manage, and benefit from agricultural enterprises, KOICA and MYI are not only improving lives but also strengthening rural economies in Rwanda.

The success of COPALEG proves that with the right support, vulnerable communities can become self-reliant, resilient, and prosperous. As the cooperative continues to grow, it serves as a model of inclusive, sustainable development—one farm, one family, and one empowered woman at a time.

  Story by: Joyeuse MUKUNDIYUKURI