On May 03rd 2019, Rwanda’s agriculture stakeholders gathered in Kigali to attend the launch of this year’s Global Food Policy Report (GFPR) released by the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI). The half-day event, officiated by Prime Minister, Edouard Ngirente, also discussed the “Rural Revitalization: Global and Rwanda Perspectives.”
The 2019 GFPR highlights the agency of rural revitalization to address the crisis in rural areas where people around the world continue to struggle with food insecurity, persistent poverty and inequality, and environmental degradation.
Speaking at the event, Prime Minister Ngirente noted that the findings of this report clearly show that Rwanda is on the right path to Africa’s journey to revitalize its rural areas.
“We strongly believe that this report will contribute to the emergence of global food policy shifts towards high investment and capitalization for competitiveness of the agriculture sector. This will lead to more agriculture outputs and rural transformation,” The Prime Minister said.
He added that rural revitalization is at the center of Rwanda’s development vision, strategies and programmes.
For instance, the Strategic Plan for Agricultural Transformation (PSTA 4), which was launched in January 2018, aims at significantly increasing productivity of different inputs invested in agricultural sector, and promoting market linkages and value addition to agriculture produce. The PSTA 4 is a comprehensive Government strategy to achieve food security. It has clear actions to increase labour and land productivity, linking farmers to lucrative markets and promoting sustainable production systems.
“With these initiatives, we are very confident that we will be able to advance our agricultural transformation. In so doing, we are projecting to meet, by 2030, the SDGs targets of ending poverty in all its forms everywhere, end hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture,” PM Ngirente said.
During the event, participants discussed rural revitalization; focusing on both global and Rwanda Perspectives. Minister of Agriculture and Animal Resources, Dr Gerardine Mukeshimana, was part of the panel discussion on rural transformation.
“If we want to reduce poverty, end hunger and achieve Sustainable Development Goals, we really need to go deep in rural areas and make sure that no one is left behind,” the Minister said.