Store enough produce for home consumption, Minister Mukeshimana tells farmers

Farmers-sieving-their-produce-in-drying-ground

The Minister of Agriculture and Animal Resources, Dr Gerardine Mukeshimana, has called upon Rwandan farmers to store enough quantity of their produce for home consumption as weather conditions have nowadays become unpredictable; thus affecting negatively the harvests.

The Minister made the call on January 12, 2017 while reacting on a recent FAO report entitled “Crop Prospects and Food Situation” which ranked Rwanda among resilient countries in the region. The report, dated December 04, 2016, says that production prospects are mostly favourable in Rwanda, except in some eastern areas; indicating that Rwanda and Tanzania are the only countries in the region that are in ‘white colour’ meaning that they are not in need of humanitarian assistance.

While reacting on questions raised by some members of the press, Minister Mukeshimana explained that good collaboration between concerned entities and farmers, in addition to national stability are main factors that are behind Rwanda's resilience.

The Minister said that Rwanda has been facing scarcity of rain since June 2015 which has been reducing agricultural produce. Despite the prolonged drought experienced mostly in some areas of eastern province, she noted that the situation is still under control at national level.

About 100,000 households are estimated to have been affected and the government provided them with foodstuffs from the National Strategic Reserve.

“We also encourage all farmers to store enough quantity of their produce at family level for home consumption in case of prolonged drought. They should sell only surpluses so that they can get income for other domestic needs,” said Minister Mukeshimana.

The Minister also noted that the ministry has been encouraging the farmers to take advantages of small scale irrigation facilities to irrigate their crops where possible. Acquiring Small scale irrigation equipment is subsidized up to 50% by the government.

For more details on the FAO’s ‘Crop Prospects and Food Situation’ report, please kindly follow this link: www.fao.org/3/a-i6558e.pdf

RWANDA SECURES OVER RWF 110 BILLION IN IFAD FUNDING TO BOOST AGRICULTURE

MINAGRI launches Veterinary Sanitary Mandate policy and related Digital Licensing system

Rwanda Launches the Youth FAST Forum

Rwanda Hosted the 21st CAADP Partnership Platform and 16th Africa Day for Food and Nutrition Security

Rwanda Marks World Food Day 2025 with a Call for Collective Action on Nutrition and Food Security

Rwanda hosted the 6th Eastern Africa Farmers Federation Congress

UBUTUMWA BUJYANYE N’IGIHEMBWE CY’IHINGA CY’UMUHINDO CYA 2026 A

MINISTER DR. MARK CYUBAHIRO BAGABE INAUGURATED THE KIBEHO TEA FACTORY

MINAGRI Rallies Stakeholders to Boost Seeds and Fertilizer Distribution for 2026A Agricultural Season