Picture of the week: Rotting red peppers

Bienvenue Murenzi recounts:

"The photo was taken in Rwamagana District, Eastern Province of Rwanda. I was meeting farmers who are part of a cooperative (Imbarutso za Karembo). Before taking the pictures, we had a simple conversation about what they do, how they are doing, and the challenges they face.

They grow vegetables such as green, yellow, and red peppers in their greenhouse. They had achieved a good harvest, but their biggest challenges were access to markets and transport. Without reliable transport, they could only sell occasionally, often at very low prices.

We discussed possible solutions. Cold storage could help extend the life of their produce, but without better transport and stronger market access, much of the problem remains. Sometimes farmers even leave crops unharvested, fearing they will rot in uncontrolled storage before they can be sold.

After hearing their story, I decided to photograph the rotting red peppers - left behind despite being ready to harvest. It is sad to see so much good produce wasted because of lack of access to cold-chain and markets."