The Rwanda Tea Association has partnered with mobile money providers to ensure all smallholder farmers receive instant digital payments for their green leaf deliveries.
In a move aimed at improving financial inclusion among tea farmers, the RTA has rolled out a digital payment system across all member factories. The initiative, developed in partnership with MTN Mobile Money and BK TechHouse, ensures that over 400,000 smallholder farmers receive payment within 24 hours of delivering their green leaf.
Previously, many farmers waited up to two weeks for payment. The new system also provides farmers with SMS receipts and access to their transaction history, enabling them to track income and plan household budgets more effectively.
RTA Chairperson Jean-Pierre Ngabonziza called it "a transformative step toward making Rwanda's tea value chain more equitable and efficient."
Previously, many farmers waited up to two weeks for payment. The new system also provides farmers with SMS receipts and access to their transaction history, enabling them to track income and plan household budgets more effectively.
RTA Chairperson Jean-Pierre Ngabonziza called it "a transformative step toward making Rwanda's tea value chain more equitable and efficient."