Rwanda is making massive reforms that may make Agriculture a very attractive sector and worth trying. Lack of access to funding, complex access to foreign markets, expensive farm inputs and uncertainties caused by nature are gradually being sorted by the government.
The agricultural sector contributed 29% of Rwanda’s GDP in 2018 but it’s also important to remember that over 70% of Rwanda’s population is engaged in the sector, and this is what is driving these reforms.
Last week on October 18th, Rwanda Development Board organised a quarterly CEO Forum series bringing together over 130 stakeholders in the Agricultural sector. This is the 2nd time the sector players have met to network and brainstorm how to improve the sector.
The forum outlined several commitments and deals the government of Rwanda has put in place to stimulate massive interest in Agriculture to make it very lucrative from its current subsistence purpose to farmers. For example, Rwanda signed a deal with Netafim Company – an Israeli manufacturer of irrigation equipment. Netafim is expected to develop and operationalise 5,600 hectares of land in Gabiro, in Eastern Rwanda. It is a US$ 200 million Public Private Partnership where the government will ultimately divest its shares.
In April, the government launched the National Agriculture Insurance Scheme to lessen risks and losses incurred by investors due to unpredictable natural disasters as well as pests and diseases that affect crops and livestock.
