This Friday, October 24, 2025, Rwanda celebrated World Food Day with a vibrant event held in Nyamagabe district, Southern Province, under the theme: “Hand in Hand for Better Foods and a Better Future”.

The celebration brought together government leaders, development partners, and members of the local community in a shared commitment to promote food security, nutrition, and sustainable agriculture.

Organized by the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources (MINAGRI), the event featured several impactful community activities, including the planting of fruit trees, the distribution of cows to vulnerable families, the donation of small livestock to resource-poor households, and the launch of Fortified Whole Grain Maize Flour in the national school feeding programme.

Speaking at the event, Dr. Mark Cyubahiro Bagabe, Minister of Agriculture and Animal Resources, noted that World Food Day serves as an opportunity for everyone to reflect on their role in ensuring Rwanda’s food security and to join hands in boosting agricultural production and ending malnutrition across the country.

He explained the choice of Nyamagabe district as the host of this year’s celebration: “This is to demonstrate a special commitment to strengthening efforts aimed at eradicating poverty and malnutrition, as reports from the National Institute of Statistics indicate that this district has some of the highest poverty levels in the country,” he said.

Dr. Bagabe added that the ministry and its partners had launched several special initiatives as part of the Nutrition Month, which runs from October 16 to November 15 this year.

During this period, various activities are carried out to boost agricultural productivity and combat malnutrition, including planting fruit trees, promoting livestock farming to improve health and nutrition, and reinforcing efforts to increase yields for the current planting season.

The minister further emphasized that celebrating World Food Day is a reminder that food security is not only about having enough to eat, but also about ensuring that every meal is nutritionally balanced and contributes to both physical and mental well-being.

“In this regard, we have recently launched a programme to provide school children with fortified whole grain maize flour rich in essential nutrients. Through collaboration with the Ministry of Education and other partners, this flour will now be used in school feeding programmes to replace the previously used type,” he explained.

Dr. Bagabe highlighted that this initiative is a homegrown solution designed to promote local production and innovation. Studies have shown that whole grain maize flour, which retains the outer layer of the grain, is significantly more nutritious than refined maize flour, offering improved health benefits at no additional cost.

According to the 7th Integrated Household Living Conditions Survey (EICV7), Nyamagabe is the poorest district in Rwanda, with a poverty rate of 51.4 percent. Hosting the 2025 World Food Day celebration in the district symbolized renewed efforts to fight poverty and improve food and nutrition security both locally and nationwide.

World Food Day is celebrated globally every year on October 16, though countries may choose any date between October 16 and 30 for national observances. The day aims to raise awareness and inspire collective action to end hunger while promoting access to nutritious and sustainable diets for all.      

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