Sweet Potato Value Chain in Rwanda: Understanding Actors and Interaction Challenges in a Context of Food and Livelihood Security

There are several crops cultivated in Rwanda to fighting food insecurity. In that regards this study was conducted to understand actors involved in the production of sweet potato which is one of the most popular crops grown in Rwandans. This is because the crop has the potential to effectively contribute to address poverty through income generation for producers and other involved in the value chain. This study attempted to examine the interaction between actors involved in sweet potato value chain. The study focused on sweet potato farmers’ cooperatives, Indyo Inoze bakery as sweet potato processor, government and researchers (public and private) institutions located in Muhanga District as a case study. It cover all 15 professional groups that are in the 5 sweet potato farmers’ cooperatives representatives of NGOs, Government and other institutions. The study used mixed-methods approach for data analysis. In that respect stakeholders mapping and stakeholders’ analysis were conducted to know the actors in the sector and to understand their roles and relations. Venn diagram and Network diagram were used to describe the interactions between actors and shed light on power relations. The results from research show the importance of stakeholders in the chain and how the Government influences other actors due to its power and capacities through agricultural policy. The study revealed that the issues holding back sweet potato production are based on good land that have been taken for priority crops and also agricultural policy operation as well. Networking between stakeholders is still an issue and that does not favor an effective collaboration for improving sweet potato production that is very important crop in the daily life of farmers and affect their livelihood. The study recommends a change in the current policy to guaranty farmer’s participation during the formulation of policy that affect directly their livelihood.