Growing fruit and vegetables has not always been common in Rwanda. But the idea of growing food in small spaces has been catching on, encouraged by a government program called Kitchen Garden to promote the practice.

Esperance Mukambungo, a health adviser in Rubugurizo village says that small-space crops help to improve family nutrition by adding fruits and vegetables to staple meals.

This health official noted that most family dishes used to lack greens as some people underestimated their importance, but now rural residents have embraced the government’s program of creating a Kitchen garden around their households.

Mukambugo believes kitchen gardens contribute greatly in eradicating diseases caused by malnutrition. In areas where land is scarce, people have developed ingenious methods of growing crops in small spaces.

One local resident said; “What is the use of buying fruits and vegetables in the market if there is space going unused in your home”.