For over a decade, product developer, François Nsenga of Ninaf Ltd, has been on a mission to establish a unique floral niche that will place Rwanda on the global floriculture map. His work focuses on harnessing the potential of indigenous flora, turning them into sustainable products for both local and international markets. In a recent progress/update report, Mr. Nsenga outlined his ongoing efforts to develop Rwanda's floriculture sector. His approach blends practical experimentation—such as cultivating new flower varieties, experimenting with essential oil extraction, and promoting the use of flowers for local decoration and for innovative other uses—with the cultural challenge of integrating flowers into Rwandan life. The report reflects a personal exploration, detailing the hurdles, successes, and future ambitions in creating a thriving floriculture industry in Rwanda.
François Nsenga
How it all started
Nsenga's journey began in 2013 when he encountered wild Zantedeschia aethiopica thriving in Kigali's marshlands. "I had been away from Rwanda since 1970. And in Montréal, Canada, where I had settled in 1972, I had opened a Product Development workshop that I ran for around 15 years, experimenting with developing different products out of Phragmites australis (water reed) stems. This species grows mainly in marshlands. But along the St. Lawrence riverbanks in Canada, I had never seen Zantedeschia around. And here in Rwanda,I was surprised not to see Phragmites in the marshlands along the Nile River tributaries, where abundant Zantedeschia, Papyrus, and Typha grow So, I started exploring what else could be done with these ubiquitous Zantedeschia, in addition to their natural capacity in purifying dirty waters from surrounding hills."
Papyrus
So, inspired by their untapped potential, he envisioned transforming these blooms into products for both local use and export. In 2014, with support from the Rwanda National Agricultural Export Board (NAEB), Nsenga facilitated the country's first-ever flower shipment to the Netherlands, via Brussels. He managed to gather almost a ton of stems, as a trial ready to be shipped to Aalsmeer Flower Auction, in the Netherlands. In this shipment, he also included papyrus, a plant that also grows wild and abundant in the Nile Valley. So, half of the shipment was made of wild white Zantedeschia, from surrounding marshlands; the other half was made of fresh young heads of wild Papyrus, cut from one of the closest pond. Although logistical challenges rendered the initial trial unsuccessful, as the flowers had to be thrown away, it proved that export of flowers and plants from the land-locked Rwanda was possible.
Zantedeschia
Even though the initial trials failed, Mr. Nsenga remained convinced that there is a potential market for these products. "Here in Rwanda, and in sub-Saharan Africa in general, we don't have a tradition of using flowers. Our ancestors mostly used plants leaves as green vegetables, sometimes as medicine together with stems and roots. But not flowers. So, why not explore this market too? Export will follow once the worth of products and services will have been fully proven in use, here at home." He therefore started exploring how he could improve the quality of the local wild Zantedeschia from the surrounding marshlands.
Valorization projects
So, Mr. Nsenga started different valorization projects. The first was to attempt growing multicolored Zantedeschia. 'I'm neither a grower nor a floricultural expert, but a product developer. So, I do not have expertise in growing flowers, but I have insight in what new products to introduce to a corresponding market." So, he started experimenting with natural pigmentation, avoiding synthetic sprays, using mineral pigments absorbed through the stem instead. He also imported colorful Zantedeschia bulbs varieties, first from New Zealand, and later from The Netherlands. He successfully cultivated them in Rwanda, both in pots and in open fields.Trials, supported by NAEB, confirmed the flowers' adaptability to Rwandan conditions. Nsenga advocated for local use, first, alongside eventual potential exports; proposing initiatives to encourage Rwandans to appreciate and use flowers for events and decor. Efforts included distributing flowers to vendors in Kigali and proposing a central flower market, though the latter was not sustained. He also envisioned introducing a Rwandan-specific flower decoration style inspired by Japanese Ikebana and hoped to establish a floral design school in Kigali, though partnerships yet to materialize.
Still, also for both the domestic and export businesses, he thought and experimented that in Rwanda, a market niche of dehydrated flowers and plants could be developed, for interior decoration both at home and in work spaces. He also did some trials which he illustrated in his report.
He keeps developing a local flower ornamental product line, like these Tuberose inflorescences below that he also colored in different hues by soaking them into pigmented watering, out of this and few other local species. Furthermore, he also thought that essential oils could be extracted, to eventually supply various start-ups in various manufacturing industries, both in Rwanda and abroad.
Further, Nsenga explored the culinary uses of flowers like some Tagetes species, which contain bioactive compounds that are beneficial for human and animal health. By cultivating these flowers for consumption, he highlighted their potential as both a natural dietary supplement and a marketable innovative product.
And last but not least, he is aiming to integrate floriculture into Rwanda's booming tourism offerings. Beside volcanous mountain gorillas and other exotic tropical wildlife across the "Thousand Hills", Nsenga proposes another project, URUGO Lodge. This is presently being designed as a resting site at the end or beginning of a planned indigenous 'Flower Road'. Both Rwandans and visitors, exclusively those of 60 years old and above, could grow and consume local edible flowers. Passionate and dedicated business partners are welcome.
Conclusion
After a decade of exploration and experimentation in Rwanda's floriculture sector, Mr. Nsenga concludes that while Western flower ornamentation will remain a personal preference, Rwanda should develop its unique uses for flowers, with indigenous flower varieties. "These could be used for decoration, landscaping, culinary applications, cosmetics, therapeutic purposes, and many other potential uses. Exporting these locally developed floral products, like edible flowers, can help Rwanda join these emerging global niche markets."
"However, this vision requires a cultural shift, particularly among the youth, to move away from unrealistic aspirations of instant wealth, and instead focus on sustainable growth through passion, talent, and carefully planned projects."
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For more information
Ninaf Ltd.
François Nsenga
Email: [email protected]
www.ninafconsult.rw