On Friday October 28, 2022, Rwanda marked World Food Day 2022, with the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources and major stakeholders in the agriculture sector including representatives of Rome-based agencies of FAO, IFAD, and WFP joining residents in Muhanga District to celebrate the day.

The day was observed under the theme: “Leave No One Behind, Better Production, Better Nutrition, a Better Environment and a Better Life”.

During the celebrations at Buziranyoni site in Rongi sector, urea fertilizer was applied on maize crops, cows given to vulnerable families, agroforestry tree seedlings planted, and children fed with milk and nutritious food.

At the event, the Minister of Agriculture and Animal Resources, Dr. Gerardine Mukeshimana, urged all farmers in Rwanda to leverage all programmes in the country for increasing agricultural production, proper postharvest handling and processing as well as protecting the environment.

She also urged all family members in Rwandan families, especially men and women, to keep their unity and always work together to increase both their agricultural production and consumption of nutritious food especially for their children.

“A country is made up of families and strong, healthy families make up a strong and healthy country,” she said, emphasising the need to keep healthy and stable families.

She also urged all farmers to collectively exploit their land plots under the land use consolidation programme initiated by the government because it eases massive access to extension services such as use of fertilisers, quality seeds, and other good agricultural practices.

“We are now distributing DAP and Urea fertilisers for free to farmers who are using their land in a consolidated way. Sometimes some farmers miss out on opportunities because they aren't using their land in a consolidated way,” she told residents in Muhanga district who gathered for the World Food Day celebrations.

She also said that the government will keep doing everything possible to keep fertiliser prices within the means of all farmers.

“We will do everything to keep fertiliser prices affordable,” she said, urging farmers to embrace the use of quality inputs for their crops.

World Food Day is celebrated globally each year on 16th October, but each country is free to opt for a convenient date between 16th October and 30th October for national celebrations.

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