RWANDA – Rwanda has unveiled a strategic plan to boost agricultural output by 50% over the next five years in an effort to achieve 100% self-sufficiency in staple food production.

Speaking to both chambers of parliament on September 9, Prime Minister Eduard Ngirente outlined the government’s commitment to increasing harvests of key crops under the Crop Intensification Programme (CIP).

This initiative targets crops like maize, beans, Irish potatoes, cassava, wheat, bananas, and rice, aiming to eliminate the need for imports by 2029.

The National Strategic Transformation (NST2) plan, covering 2024-2029, aligns with these goals, focusing on enhancing food security and reducing dependency on external markets.

 “We plan to be self-reliant on maize, Irish potatoes, and beans, and we shall no longer be importing them by 2029,” stated Ngirente.

Rwanda’s recent agricultural season saw substantial yields, including 630,768 metric tons of maize, 518,044 metric tons of cassava, 460,830 metric tons of Irish potatoes, and 587,981 metric tons of bananas. Beans and paddy rice accounted for 233,142 metric tons and 69,098 metric tons, respectively.

However, despite these promising figures, the country remains short of meeting domestic demand.

According to the Famine Early Warning Systems Network (FEWS Net), Rwanda’s self-sufficiency in maize, for example, stood at 89% between 2016-2021, with a domestic supply of 576,000 metric tons against a demand of 645,000 metric tons.

The shortfall underscores the urgency of Rwanda’s current agricultural initiatives.

To achieve its ambitious goals, Rwanda plans to increase irrigated land from 71,000 to 130,000 hectares and expand terraced areas from 140,000 to 160,000 hectares.

The government will also promote collaboration with local farmers to develop terraces on their land. The expansion includes the establishment of agribusiness hubs, such as the Gabiro and Gako hubs.

The Gabiro Agribusiness Hub in Nyagatare, Eastern Province, developed as a joint venture, is a flagship project covering 5,600 hectares in its first phase.

This project will expand to both the northern and southern parts of Nyagatare, eventually reaching Gatsibo District, offering services such as land leasing, farm demonstrations, and in-field installations.

To mitigate the impact of climate change on agriculture, Rwanda is focusing on the Commercialization and De-Risking for Agricultural Transformation Project (CDAT), which was approved in 2022 with a US$300 million funding commitment from the World Bank.

This five-year project aims to increase irrigated land, support commercialization among producers, and improve access to agricultural finance. It targets six value chains under the CIP: horticulture, rice, beans, maize, Irish potatoes, and cassava.

Additionally, the country plans to increase fertilizer use from 70 kilograms to 92.6 kilograms per hectare. Additionally, the proportion of loans dedicated to agriculture will rise from 6% to 10% of total loans in the country.

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