Rwanda Marks World Food Day 2026 in Gatsibo, Calling for Agricultural Innovation, Better Nutrition and Stronger Food Systems

In Gatsibo District on 30th October 2026, Rwanda joined the international community in celebrating World Food Day 2026, with national celebrations held under the theme of “Innovate Today. Nourish Tomorrow”.

The event, organised by the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources (MINAGRI) in partnership with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and other stakeholders, brought together government officials, development partners, farmers, livestock keepers, local leaders and community members to reaffirm their commitment to building sustainable, productive and resilient food systems.

The celebrations were presided over by the Minister of Agriculture and Animal Resources, Hon. Dr. Telesphore Ndabamenye, accompanied by the Minister of State at MINAGRI, Hon. Dr. Solange Uwituze, the FAO Representative in Rwanda, Mr. Mohamed Aw-Dahir, the Governor of the Eastern Province Pudence Rubingisa, local government officials, and other development partners.

Addressing participants, Hon. Dr. Telesphore Ndabamenye emphasised that achieving sustainable food security requires collective responsibility, increased agricultural productivity, innovation and effective responses to climate change.

The Minister called on farmers to continuously improve their farming practices, maximise production and adopt climate-resilient approaches to safeguard agricultural activities against changing weather patterns.

He encouraged farmers to make proper use of agricultural inputs, including fertilisers, strengthen pest and disease management, improve water harvesting and irrigation, and ensure effective post-harvest handling to minimise losses and increase the quality of agricultural produce.

He also urged farmers and livestock keepers to embrace agricultural and livestock insurance, highlighting the Government's support through a 40% subsidy to make insurance more accessible.

The Minister further stressed that food security should not be measured solely by the availability of food, but also by people's ability to access safe, nutritious and balanced diets. He called on households to prioritise proper nutrition, particularly for children, as part of the national efforts to combat malnutrition.

He appreciated the contribution of farmers, development partners, the private sector and other stakeholders in advancing Rwanda's agricultural transformation, while calling for stronger collaboration to increase production for both household consumption and markets.

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