Farm Tours Rwanda
Farm Tours Rwanda
Farm Tours Rwanda, Rwanda is known for a lot of things when it comes to tourism and Agritourism. This has also been added to the many things that Rwanda is known for. Farm tours also known as Agritourism or Agro tourism in Rwanda has taken the country by storm as many farmers are now planting different crops for tourism purposes.
Agritourism is where one joins agriculture and tourism. In simple terms, it is where crops are grown on a large scale for tourism purposes and later sold. So that one can earn more income from the sales.
Rwanda does not have a lot of Agritourism farms since it has just been recently introduced into the country. That is why, I have listed a few of them and other unlisted Agritourism farms.
The Pineapple Agritourism Farm
Pineapples is a fruit crop that originated from Latin America. It reached Africa between the 16th and 17th Centuries and in Rwanda after 1962. In Rwanda, Pineapples are commonly grown in western, northern, southern, and eastern provinces. Farm Tours Rwanda, Agritourism
Type of varieties grown in Rwanda: Queen and Smooth Cayenne and Sugarloaf, Pineapple
Cultivation locations in Rwanda: It is mostly grown in Kirehe, Ngoma, Bugesera, Kayonza, Nyagatare, Gisagara, Huye, Kamonyi and Muhanga districts
Climatic conditions for growth: Pineapple grows in warm and humid climates at low elevation areas within a temperature range of 15ºC to 30ºC. It is drought tolerant because of the special water storage cells. Tourists normally visit the area to see the way these are propagated and how they are harvested. It is mainly operated on by Asians and everyone who visits the farm is given a knife which they use when it comes to harvesting the pineapples. They also get to buy some fresh pineapples. The farm also gives out knowledge about the different techniques that are used when it comes to farming.
The food crops
Many food crops are grown in the area. Some of these include sweet potatoes, bananas, sugarcane, Irish potatoes, arrowroots, cassava, and many more. The food crops help in the provision of food to the owners of the farm and the local people living around the farm and the visitors also get to buy some of the fresh food crops from the farm.
Backyard farming
Vegetables are the ones that are mostly grown in backyard farming and this is mostly done in plastics. These are grown and when they are ready, they are grown to supplement the farmer’s diet and some of them are sold to tourists. The tourists also get a chance to learn how to do farming on a small-scale piece of land.
Forest farming
The forests planted here are always done on a large scale and they have helped in the reduction of deforestation in the country. There are several tree species that are planted in the area and tourists get to see the different tree species some of these include eucalyptus trees, Musizi trees, pine trees, jackfruit trees, orange trees, Bamboo trees, and many more others.
Fish farming- Farm Tours Rwanda, Agritourism
Our routine activities revolve around combining specific males and females for a few days, then harvesting their eggs and returning those parent fish to their resting ponds. It’s labor-intensive, but that’s okay because we are set up for that. Farm Tours Rwanda, Agritourism
Oreochromis are maternal mouthbrooders. That means that after the eggs have been externally fertilized on the bottom of the pond, the female picks them up in her mouth and holds them there for a week or more until they hatch. We commercialize that process by “robbing” the eggs from the females after a day or two incubating them in the fish hatchery and then growing out in the fish nursery to 1g for sale or stocking.
There is an increase in the demand for fish in the country and that is why there is an increase in fish farms in the country. The fish farm has different species of fish that are reared but the most common species is the Crayfish and the catfish. When tourists visit the area, they get to learn how fishing is done, how the fish ponds are constructed, how the fish are cared for without losing them, and how the fishing is chosen before they are put in the ponds.
Cattle farms
Most of the cattle farms in Rwanda are found in the western part of the country. The cattle that are mostly used when it comes to Agritourism are the long-horned cattle also locally known as the Inyambo cattle and these are reared for both meat and milk purposes. Farm Tours Rwanda, Agritourism
Most of the farms have been turned into tourist attraction sites and tourists get to see how the cattle are reared using different techniques, how they are milked locally, and how the manure is used to fertilize the nearby gardens to get good yields.
The coffee farms – Farm Tours Rwanda, Agritourism
Kinunu Washing Station
Directly overlooking the shores of Lake Kivu, about 20km south of Gisenyi, Kinunu is among the most popular destinations for coffee tours thanks to its beautiful vistas.
Kinunu buys coffee cherries from hundreds of farmers who live and grow coffee near the washing station, with plots typically less than a quarter of a hectare. It also has partnerships with several local cooperatives and farmers’ associations.
A visit to the coffee farms will give you general knowledge about coffee, how it is grown, and the fertilizing part and you will also get to help when it comes to harvesting the ripe ones. The coffee is also exported to different countries and the farms acting as tourist destinations will help in income geIngoboka
Tea farms – Farm Tours Rwanda, Agritourism
Rwanda has various tea estates that are found in the different parts of the country and these are now acting as tourist destinations. Tea in Rwanda is mostly. These tea estates are now Agritourism farms and one gets to know how tea grows, what it looks like while still in the gardens, and how to harvest it when it is ready. The Tea farms generate income businesses for the owners and the locals that work in them and they provide revenue to the government. Farm Tours Rwanda, Agritourism
Tea production in Rwanda
Rwandan tea growing regions are endowed with an ideal climate; tropical, volcanic soils, and well-distributed rainfall ranging between 1200 mm to 1400mm per annum. There are also sunny days which are some of the climatic features of the tea-growing regions.
Higher-quality Rwandan teas are processed using traditional methods, like picking the tender leaves and bud cyclically, hence being allowed to dry and be “fermented” by enzymes. They are the often highly sought-after “single origin” whole-leaf teas. The tea sector consists of 15 tea factories, with an annual production volume of over 25,000 metric tons of dry tea. The area under tea cultivation is approximately 26,000 hectares.
The Importance of Agritourism in Rwanda
Agritourism gives farmers a chance to farmers to learn about the new techniques. However, When it comes to farming, has greatly improved their output when it comes to agriculture.
It is a source of revenue to the government through the many tourists who come to the area.
It is used as an Education Centre. For both farmers and those who want to learn about the different crops grown.
Agritourism is used to preserve land for future purposes. For example, if trees are planted, they last for a long time but the land remains active.
Note that most of the Agritourism farms in Rwanda are privately owned by different individuals. They want to earn more income to sustain their livelihood.
Way forward for the country
Agro-tourism in Rwanda is on the rise and given good conditions. It will be the highlight for most of the tourists who visit Rwanda in the next few years. It is a good venture for the country. And if you are planning your trip to Rwanda, be sure you do not miss out on the safari packages. That offers a tour of the different farms. That is located in the different areas of the country.
Agro-tourism in Rwanda is mainly carried out in the Country. And it has started attracting many tourists. Who go on safaris to see the beautiful gardens. They are always on display for both the locals and the tourists. Who visit to see the different techniques that are used in the farms.
There are different farms in Rwanda. They are meant for Agro-tourism and most of these are owned by individuals. They want to earn some extra income to boost their farms. A few of these farms have been listed. So that, we get to know what they do and the crops that are planted in the area.
Safari Vacations and Travel Services is a Local tour operator based in Uganda with its head offices in Entebbe. Moreover, Safari Vacations and Travel Services is a business for Ugandan natives. We specialize in life-changing experiences, sustainable tours, and holidays for all East African countries. Also, we are members of the Association of Uganda Tour Operators and with registration from the Uganda Tourism Board. We have a good and long working relationship with the Uganda Wildlife Authority. We are making booking your gorilla permits and gorilla trekking safari easy. Safari Vacations and Travel Services is also high in Trip Advisor reviews.
