by Frank Kanyesigye, Ji Li
KIGALI, Oct. 14 (Xinhua) -- In the lush green hills of Bumbogo sector, Gasabo district, on the outskirts of the Rwandan capital Kigali, mushroom farming and entrepreneurship are taking shape -- transforming lives and improving incomes.
At the heart of this transformation is Suzanne Nikuze, founder and owner of Triple S Company Ltd, a Rwandan agribusiness that has turned the humble mushroom into a symbol of innovation, nutrition, and empowerment.
An educator by training and an agricultural entrepreneur by passion, Nikuze's journey into mushroom farming began in 2021, when she founded Triple S.
The company specializes in the production and promotion of mushrooms and mushroom-based products. It aims to make mushroom cultivation not only a source of nutrition but also a driver of socio-economic change.
"I was given an opportunity to receive training at the China-Rwanda (Agriculture) Technology Demonstration Center in mushroom production. I also had the chance to visit China," Nikuze told Xinhua in a recent interview. "Through this experience, I came to understand the importance of mushrooms and realized their potential to create jobs and generate income."
It was during this training that Nikuze was introduced to Juncao technology, an innovation from China that uses grass instead of wood as a substrate for mushroom cultivation.
Since 2006, experts from China's Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University (FAFU) have been collaborating with the Rwandan government on Juncao technology, teaching and promoting it alongside other agricultural innovations through the China-Rwanda Agriculture Technology Demonstration Center, located in Rubona sector, Huye district, Southern Province.
Juncao, a hybrid grass developed in the 1980s by FAFU Professor Lin Zhanxi, is a multifunctional agricultural technology. It is mainly used as a substrate for growing edible and medicinal mushrooms, but also serves as livestock feed and aids in ecological restoration. The innovation has been introduced in over 100 countries, including Rwanda.
The Juncao technology project was launched at the United Nations (UN) Headquarters in 2017 and is supported by the UN Peace and Development Trust Fund.
"Juncao is a valuable innovation because, in addition to mushroom farming, it can be used in livestock feed production and even in soil erosion prevention," Nikuze said.
From that experience, she started Triple S Company Ltd with a mission: to promote sustainable agriculture, fight malnutrition, and empower women and youth through agribusiness.
Today, the company produces mushroom tubes, cultivates fresh mushrooms, and adds value through products such as mushroom powder and snacks. The company also offers short-term training programs in mushroom farming for youth under Rwanda's Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Program.
What began as a small start-up now employs four full-time staff and 30 temporary workers, 80 percent of whom are women. "Our goal is to empower women and youth through sustainable employment and skills development," said Nikuze.
The company's impact goes beyond job creation. Through its affordable mushroom products, Triple S contributes to the fight against malnutrition in local communities.
"We aim to reduce malnutrition through accessible mushroom products while providing training to women and youth for self-employment," Nikuze noted.
In just a few years, the company has seen remarkable growth. Production has increased from 2,000 to 10,000 tubes per month, and monthly sales have jumped from 1,500 to 8,000 tubes, serving more than 200 customers, including corporate and individual buyers.
Triple S has also trained over 400 youth in mushroom production and was recently authorized by the Rwanda TVET Board to establish a training center.
These milestones have earned Triple S recognition and partnerships with key institutions such as the Rwanda Environment Management Authority, the Rwanda Agriculture and Animal Resources Development Board, and EcoPlastic, a Rwandan plastic recycling company.
As Rwanda continues to champion innovation in agriculture, Nikuze's story stands as a shining example of what can be achieved when education meets opportunity and when women take the lead in shaping a greener, healthier, and more equitable future.
