From Food Waste to Innovation: How Saleh Ahishakiye is Transforming Agro-Processing.
He chose to venture into the cluster of agro-processing. Saleh Ahishakiye, a young agripreneur, is a founder of TTT Processing Agency, which is located in Musanze district in the northern province of Rwanda. His passion for food innovation and sustainability led him to create solutions addressing malnutrition, food waste, and unemployment.
He started producing Ibanga FSA Flour to offer a nutrient-rich product aimed at combating malnutrition, particularly in children under five. Ibanga Wine was created to minimize pineapple waste and provide farmers with new income sources.
Saleh Ahishakiye says that “idea behind Ibanga laundry detergent is to create an environmentally friendly and efficient cleaning solution by using pineapple peels, which are usually thrown away.” Ibanga FSA Flour supplemented with carrots, egg powder, and maize helps prevent maternal and child malnutrition. Made from fresh pineapples, Ibanga wine offers a distinctively Rwandan flavor while minimizing waste.
Pineapple peels are used to make Ibanga laundry detergent, an environmentally friendly cleaning product. Kinyarwanda word “Ibanga,” which means Secret symbolizes the good function as a remedy for actual issues. Purchasing all raw materials locally promotes sustainability and helps Rwandan farmers. Although Saleh's journey has not been without challenges, such as market penetration and insufficient equipment, his commitment to quality and customer satisfaction ensures that every product meets high standards.
Even if he ventures into agriculture in the cluster of Agro-processing, facing some of challenges, “including limited access to advanced production equipment, which affects his ability to scale production, and also financial problems. He added that he needs more funding to expand and improve his distribution,” Saleh Ahishakiye said.
Despite these challenges, Saleh said that is now expanding the Ibanga product line with Ibanga Spice, a healthy spice combination created with tomato powder, beetroot juice, and locally sourced vegatables and fish, beetroot juice and tomato powder.
His long-term goals are to boost production capacity, enter foreign markets, and use creative and sustainable food solutions to improve more communities.
RYAF Communication Team.