The Prime Minister Dr. Edouard Ngirente has called on farmers and stakeholders in agriculture sector to continuously make much efforts in transforming Rwanda’s agriculture sector to ensure food security and support the country’s economic growth.
The Prime Minister made the call on September 24, 2019 while officially launching the agriculture season 2020A. At national level, the season launch took place in Buyoga Sector of Rulindo District, Northern Province. The event was marked by sowing maize seeds on 5 ha and applying both inorganic and organic fertilizers in Muyanza irrigation scheme.
The Premier, accompanied by some cabinet members including the Minister of Agriculture and Animal Resources, Dr Gerardine Mukeshimana, officiated the season launch as part of his two-day working tour of the Northern Province.
Speaking after officiating the season launch, he emphasized the importance of the agriculture sector; thus calling for all stakeholders in the agriculture sector to keep up the agriculture sector growth momentum.
“As you know, the recent report released by the National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda indicated that the agriculture sector grew 5% during the second quarter of 2019 compared to 4% growth recorded in the first quarter of this year. This is a good indication that we should double efforts to keep the agriculture sector growing much more because this sector plays a significant role in the country’s development and improving livelihoods of citizens,” PM Ngirente said.
He also urged the farmers to sustain land use consolidation, use improved seeds & fertilizers, and ensure effective farm management as key drivers of the agriculture sector growth.
“I call upon all farmers to register themselves in the Smart Nkunganire System as this scheme facilitates them to get agricultural inputs subsidized by the government,” he told farmers, adding that the government will keep supporting the agriculture sector.
The Prime Minister noted that the Government of Rwanda has increased the budget allocated to agriculture in 2019/2020 fiscal year to put emphasis in the distribution of fertilizers to farmers and to lessen post-harvest losses.
According to statistics from Rwanda Agriculture and Animal Resources Development Board (RAB), 30,320,207 kg of fertilizers and 2,500,000 kg of seeds are set to be distributed among farmers across the country.