Kigali, Rwanda.The Kigali City Region Food System (KCRFS) is facing multiple shocks and stresses, from the impacts of climate change to political, health and economic challenges. In this context, the FAO City Region Food Systems Programme is being implemented to build resilience, enhance sustainability, and ensure food security by strengthening rural-urban linkages and promote adapted production systems through an evidence-based and participatory approach. After a phase of extensive assessments and participatory planning, the KCRFS Stakeholder Advisory Group developed a comprehensive strategy and action plan, which highlighted the critical need for capacity building related to good agricultural practices.  

As a response to this need, FAO conducted a training on horticultural crop production from 3-5 October 2023. This training aimed to empower agricultural extension officers in the Kigali city region with the knowledge and skills necessary to train local farmers in order to enhance the adoption of good agricultural practices, ultimately strengthening sustainable and resilient horticultural crop production in the Kigali city region.   

Starting with the foundations of agricultural knowledge, the training continued with innovative horticultural production methods such as urban and peri-urban agriculture, protected cultivation systems, and hydroponics. Two field visits to a nursery and a greenhouse completed the training with a practical dimension, teaching the participants how to graft fruit trees and demonstrating vertical hydroponics farming.

Beyond acquiring new knowledge, the training allowed the participants to engage in meaningful discussions, draw on the local context, and share their experiences as agricultural extension officers.