Rwanda is targeting more than a 50 percent increase in the productivity of priority food crops over the next five years as the country seeks to produce more food, improve farmer incomes and strengthen food security.
The target is part of Rwanda’s National Strategy for Transformation 2 and the Fifth Strategic Plan for Agriculture Transformation (PSTA5), which aim to accelerate agricultural development and achieve annual growth of more than six percent.
Speaking on the sidelines of the Africa Food Systems Forum in Kigali, Minister of State for Agriculture and Animal Resources Solange Uwituze said Rwanda’s focus is shifting from simply providing farmers with inputs to ensuring they have access to the right seeds, fertiliser, water, technology, finance and markets.
Rwanda’s average maize yield is about two tonnes per hectare, compared with up to eight to 10 tonnes achieved by some farmers using improved practices. The global average is around 5.7 to 5.9 tonnes per hectare.
The government plans to expand irrigated farmland from about 74,000 hectares to more than 130,000 hectares, while improving storage, post-harvest handling and agricultural markets.
Furthermore, Technology is expected to play a growing role. Rwanda is expanding the use of its Soil Information System to provide fertiliser recommendations based on specific soil and crop conditions.
The country is also developing an AI-enabled service that could provide farmers with advice on farming practices, pests, diseases and weather through mobile phones.
“AI will support rather than replace agricultural extension officers by helping them reach more farmers.”Uwituze said
Another key programme is the Food Basket Sites initiative, which brings together farming services such as improved seeds, irrigation, mechanisation, insurance and market access.
About 495,155 hectares across 13,379 crop-production sites have been mapped under the programme.
Early results include the Urwonja Food Basket Site in Nyaruguru District, where maize yields rose from about 5.2 tonnes per hectare to 8.3 tonnes in the latest season.
Rwanda says private investment will be essential, particularly in irrigation, storage, agro-processing, mechanisation and agricultural finance.
The Fifth Strategic Plan for Agriculture Transformation (PSTA5) requires about 6.62 trillion Rwandan francs between 2024 and 2029, with the private sector expected to provide about 44.2 percent.
The government says the plan is set to empower farmers to significantly increase production, boost their incomes, reduce risks and contribute to a stronger, more resilient agricultural sector, while ensuring consumers have greater access to reliable, affordable and nutritious food.
