Rania Dusabe, a young Burundian entrepreneur, is blazing a trail in sustainable food preservation with her company, Royal Food Solution. As the first young woman in Burundi to manufacture and preserve vegetables for long-term storage without compromising freshness, Rania is making a name for herself in the agricultural sector.
Rania’s journey into entrepreneurship began after completing her studies in economics at the University of Burundi. In 2022, driven by a lifelong passion for farming and a recognition of local agricultural challenges, she founded Royal Food Solution. She explains, “Farming is something I’ve loved since childhood, especially growing vegetables and fruits. That’s where I saw how vegetables often spoil in large quantities during harvest season if they don’t find buyers. And sometimes they are scarce, causing prices to rise due to the shortage.” With a team of five young people, Rania sought ways to prevent these challenges by introducing innovative preservation techniques to extend the shelf life of produce without losing its nutritional value.
Creating Royal Food Solution was no easy task. Rania recalls, “Our project required significant resources to manufacture and store vegetables using modern and specialized technology.” Despite limited resources, her determination led her to explore partnerships and funding opportunities that could support her vision.
The hard work paid off, as Royal Food Solution has since gained recognition and support from several organizations. Reflecting on her achievements, Rania says, “We won an award at the ‘Innovation Week’ competition in 2022 organized by PNUD Burundi. We also won the ‘Project of Impact under Business and Entrepreneurship, Cohort 57’ award, organized by YALI Regional Leadership Center East Africa. Recently, we won a competition for entrepreneurial projects organized by PAEEJ Burundi.”
These awards are a testament to the impact of her project and her commitment to quality. Today, Royal Food Solution produces high-quality, organic vegetable products and collaborates with three cooperatives of women who grow vegetables. “We are grateful because now we are able to produce high-quality products, including organic ones,” Rania shares with pride.
Rania is especially passionate about encouraging other young people, particularly young women, to pursue impactful business ideas that can benefit their communities and promote development in Burundi. “Roll up your sleeves, get to work, and think about impactful business ideas that can help you, your families, and contribute to the development of Burundi,” she says to aspiring entrepreneurs.
In a country where food preservation is essential for reducing waste and ensuring food security, Rania Dusabe’s Royal Food Solution is a beacon of innovation and hope. Her journey exemplifies the power of entrepreneurship in addressing community needs and fostering sustainable development.
Royal Food Solution products are available in Gitega at Yōba, with plans to expand to Bujumbura soon.
