Women in Rwanda’s Regenerative Agriculture

Across Rwanda, initiatives facilitated by Swisscontact through the AgroInnovation project - specifically the Kura Na AgTech startup support initiative - are helping to close these gaps by equipping agritech ventures with the technical expertise to design and refine products and services that respond to the realities of women smallholder farmers, ensuring that solutions remain both accessible and affordable.

Loopa,  a startup under the Kura Na Agtech by AgroInnovation witnessed how regenerative agriculture solutions, combined with tailored technical assistance - are creating new opportunities for women farmers to thrive.

Located in the Bugesera District, Loopa transforms organic waste into affordable, high‑quality organic fertilizer designed to help farmers rebuild soil fertility and reduce dependence on costly chemical inputs. Their model is grounded in infrastructure‑led composting, ensuring a consistent, year‑round supply of regenerative soil amendments.

Loopa focuses heavily on supporting the country’s 2.3 million small‑scale farmers, many of whom face rising fertilizer prices, degraded soils, and climate‑related production challenges. 

Loopa’s operational growth has been both rapid and strategic, driven not only by expanded production capacity but also by the strength of its team, including women professionals playing a key role in product development, operations, and farmer engagement.

• Initial capacity of 30 tons of organic fertilizer per month
• Expansion in 2026 to a new production site in Gashora, increasing installed capacity
• Infrastructure designed to scale up to 800 tons per month by 2027
• Approximately 20 active customers, spanning commercial producers and smallholder farmers
• 3-hectare demonstration farm validating improvements in soil health and yields

This growth is enabling Loopa to reach more farmers - including women - across Eastern Rwanda, where access to affordable, sustainable inputs remains limited, while also demonstrating the value of inclusive teams in building market-responsive agricultural solutions.

Women farmers we met during a recent field visit shared that Loopa’s organic fertilizer has enabled them to:

• Restore nutrient‑depleted soils
• Reduce expenditure on synthetic fertilizers
• Improve crop yields and household food security
• Strengthen resilience to unpredictable weather patterns

Women also serve as early adopters and agricultural knowledge champions within their cooperatives, using demonstration plots to share regenerative practices with peers. Their leadership reflects global patterns: women are often the first to adopt sustainable, low‑cost soil management practices that directly improve household well-being.

Yet, like women farmers globally, they continue to face constraints related to land access, credit, technology, and representation in decision-making - highlighting the importance of inclusive agricultural technologies innovations like Loopa’s.

Swisscontact as a Strategic Accelerator for Loopa’s Impact

A major catalyst in Loopa’s recent growth has been the Kura Na Agtech programme within the AgroInnovation project by Swisscontact, implemented in partnership with Impact Hub Kigali. The programme is designed to support agritech startups with tailored technical assistance that helps them scale farmer‑centered solutions.

Tailored Technical Assistance Provided

1. Expert Guidance on Impact Measurement
Loopa participated in Tailored masterclasses that strengthened their ability to measure and communicate real impact, such as improvements in soil health and gains in farmer productivity; critical for investment readiness and long‑term growth.

2. High‑Level Technical Coaching
Swisscontact provided expert support to Loopa’s team, including hands‑on sessions to assess and improve the company’s digital platform. This enabled Loopa’s developers to refine their systems and build a clear, actionable roadmap for innovation and scale.

3. Strengthened Business and Scaling Strategy
The tailored assistance helped Loopa align its growth plans with best practices in farmer outreach, operational efficiency, and climate‑smart agriculture, positioning the company for future investment and expansion.

Loopa described the support as one of the most practical and effective programmes they had participated in, thanks to its specificity, high‑quality expertise, and direct relevance to their operational needs.

As we celebrate Women’s Month and the International Year of the Woman Farmer 2026, Loopa stands out as a powerful example of how innovation, partnership, and gender‑inclusive approaches can reshape agricultural systems.

By empowering women farmers, improving soil health, and strengthening local value chains, Loopa - and the facilitation technical assistance provided by Swisscontact - is contributing to a more sustainable, equitable, and resilient future for Rwanda’s agriculture.