SteviaLife, a Canadian-based company, and Rwanda have signed an agreement which will see the establishment of a stevia processing plant in the East African country. Stevia is a sweetener that comes from a plant and has no calories.

The agreement will see a rise in the crop yield for the country and is expected to greatly increase its export base.

By November 2011, the country produced 1,3 tonnes of stevia per hectare, it now produces 2 tonnes per hectare every three months due to the pilot projects in Ngoma Sector, Rulindo District and Northern Province. The new plant is expected to produce 500 tonnes of stevia per year at a cost of $150per kilogramme.

According to Bruce Irambona General Manager of Stevia Life Rwanda, the proposed site for the plant will be either Rulindo District or Kigali Special Economic Zone.