From a Small Start to 37,000 Plants: How Christian Irakoze Turned Hydroponic Strawberry Farming into a Thriving Agribusiness

Irakoze Christian says what drove him to make this decision was his desire to grow something sustainable with increasing yields.
He says: “What made me think about strawberries is that I wanted a good crop I could grow in a sustainable way and increase production. I decided to do it professionally so I could maximize the harvest.”

Christian specializes in hydroponic farming, a method of growing crops without soil, providing all the nutrients through water. It is a modern technique where crops can be grown either vertically or horizontally, reducing the risk of soil-borne diseases and increasing productivity on limited land.

He initially grew different crops, including tomatoes, bell peppers, eggplants, and others, but strawberries turned out to be the best crop with promising returns. Today, he has 37,000 strawberry plants, each capable of producing at least one kilogram of strawberries per year.
He explains: “A kilogram of strawberries can sell for more than Rwf 5,000, and sometimes even higher depending on how you cultivate them.”

He is doing agribusiness that specialises in hydroponics and greenhhouse farming

Although he never attended formal agricultural training, Irakoze says the knowledge he has come from determination and a willingness to learn every day.
He says: “I never went to school for agriculture, but I kept telling myself that opportunities lie in mastering what I do. The more I experimented, the more I learned, and eventually, I decided to fully commit to farming.”

To ensure efficiency and high yields, Christian invested in a technological irrigation system that delivers water mixed with fertilizer directly to the plants. The process is fully automated and doesn’t require manual application.

He says: “To make my farming successful, I use a tech-based irrigation system that mixes water and fertilizer automatically and applies it at once. It doesn’t require someone to manually add fertilizer or push water through; everything is done by a machine we designed, and it operates according to a schedule we set.”

On whether this technology reduced jobs for workers, Christian clarifies that it didn’t eliminate workers but instead freed up time for other tasks.
He explains: “This technology didn’t affect workers negatively. It only reduced time spent on pushing water, giving them more time to focus on other activities.”

Christian urges young people not to hold back because of fear of starting small.
He says: “Don’t be afraid to start. Even if you start small, those early lessons are important steps toward reaching your goals.”

He use a tech-based irrigation system that mixes water and fertilizer automatically and applies it at once.

This innovative young man has been selected to attend the Africa Food Systems Summit 2025. For him, it’s a big step and an opportunity to network with other entrepreneurs across Africa and seize new opportunities.
He says: “It’s a chance to explore development initiatives across Africa, meet farmers from different regions, and gain more knowledge. This will help me expand what I do and leverage new opportunities.”

Currently, Irakoze Christian employs 29 permanent workers on his strawberry farm. Local residents also benefit by accessing fresh fruit and securing temporary jobs whenever available.

Christian Starts this project in 2021

He produces only strwaberries since 2022

He practices strawberry farming on one hectare

He employs 29 permanent full time workers