From poacher to potato farmer: Mupenzi Valentin’s journey of transformation
Mupenzi Valentin, a 48-year-old resident of Bunyenyeri Village, Bisoke Cell, Kinigi Sector, Musanze District, once lived as a poacher but has now invested in potato farming, providing employment for his neighbors.
Growing up at the foot of Mount Bisoke, Mupenzi believed his life revolved around hunting with traps in the Volcanoes National Park and harvesting bamboo to sell to wealthy neighbors for construction. He recalls, “I started poaching at eight years old, fetching bamboo for my father to make buffalo traps. Later, I joined him hunting animals in the park. When tourism expanded, poachers like me were organized into cooperatives to work as porters for tourists. That’s how I earned the initial capital to start farming.”
With a small plot and limited funds, Mupenzi began farming pyrethrum on 20 ares in 2005, later transitioning to potatoes. Today, he stands out among 494 former poachers who have transformed their lives, owning 2.5 hectares of land and leasing an additional 4 hectares for farming. He also serves as an Agriculture Advisor in the Kinigi Sector.
“I started with 20 ares of pyrethrum and barely 150,000 RWF. My first harvest yielded two sacks, which I sold to buy potato seeds. Over time, I expanded my land and resources. Today, my children attend good schools, and my wife, whom I supported through education, now runs a nursery school built on land we purchased from potato farming income,” he says.
Mupenzi employs up to 60 people during peak farming seasons. One of his workers, Mutoniwase Marcelline, says, “Mupenzi is a role model. He provides jobs to many of us, showing that transformation is possible. From poaching to sustainable farming, he’s become an inspiration for the community.”
Currently, Mupenzi farms 6.5 hectares, producing over 25 tons of potatoes per season. After investing around 3 million RWF in seeds and labor, he earns over 5 million RWF each harvest.
He encourages others, especially former poachers, to seize opportunities provided by the government, such as venturing into profitable farming.