Agric Transformation |
Agriculture
performance and food security are expected to improve further, thanks to
a new Rwf260 billion agriculture transformation scheme.
The plan, which
runs from 2018 to 2023, will also take into account inclusive
employment, enhancement of farmers' skills, enabling environment and
responsive institutions, with view to fast-tracking the achievement of
zero-hunger goal in Rwanda.
Speaking at a
consultative workshop on the new plan in Kigali yesterday, Dr Octave
Semwaga, the director-general of strategic planning and programmes
coordination at the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources
(MINAGRI), said research under the third Strategic Plan for the
Transformation of Agriculture (PSTA), which is nearing a close, was not a
major component due to inadequate funding.
Semwaga said the
new drive includes many new aspects such as supporting farmers to get
standards certification for their crops to be competitive at the market,
as well as quality seeds that can resist diseases and climate change.
The president of
Rwanda Cassava Cooperatives Federation, Martin Harerimana, recently told
The New Times that research and technology should be prioritised to
address issues of crop diseases that have been wrecking farmers'
investments and threatening food security.
Harerimana said
cassava is grown on over 100,000 hectares of farmland countrywide, but
the outbreak of Cassava Brown Streak Disease in 2012/13, destroyed the
crop, leaving farmers struggling to get cassava stems that are resistant
to the disease.
"We need the
institution responsible for agriculture development to carry out
research to avail various cassava varieties that farmers can try and
choose one to grow based on productivity. With availability of
varieties, farmers will have options when one is affected by disease or
pest," he said.
Yesterday's workshop was the second private sector consultation on PSTA IV.
It was held in
partnership with the US Agency for International Development (USAID),
Private Sector Driven Agriculture Growth project, the Private Sector
Federation's Chamber of Agriculture and Livestock, and the UN Food and
Agriculture Organisation (FAO) through the Rwanda Public Private
Dialogue (RPPD) mechanism.
Most of the key
recommendations made by local producers and agri-businesses on June 2
were incorporated in the test policy document.
Some of the issues
that were addressed include placing more emphasis on research and skills
development, addressing the effects of climate change through the use
of technology like irrigation, and establishing improved communication
channels between Government, producers and businesses.
Christine
Murebwayire, the chairperson of the PSF Chamber of Agriculture and
Livestock, said it is important that more attention is given to research
as it will enhance agricultural and livestock productivity.
"There is a
mismatch between agriculture performance and research in Rwanda. We
realised that research is the first element that would help us get
quality seeds and livestock and fish breeds, and, as a result, be able
to compete at the international market," she said.
Melanie Bittle, the
chief of party for Private Sector Driven Agricultural Growth programme,
a five-year project funded by USAID, said their focus is to ensure that
farmers have access to new technologies and seeds.
"One of the new
things that they have focused on under this policy is to ensure that
there is communication going on between MINAGRI and the farmers. They
are opening up different avenues so the farmers can get feedback when
they don't have access to the right type of seeds, fertiliser, or
technology," she said.
The new strategic
plan aims to further advance the Government of Rwanda's goal of
achieving an annual growth rate of at least 8.5 per cent in agriculture
sector, from about 5 per cent in 2016, MINAGRI says.
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