Access to agriculture inputs and other services will soon be easier following the signing of a deal between the Rwanda Agriculture Board (RAB) and BK TecHouse, a subsidiary of the Bank of Kigali, to digitise management of the supply chain of the national farmer subsidy programme.
Regis Regemanshuro, the BK TecHouse chief, explained that the 'Smart Nkuganire' platform will be an innovative tool to link and empower stakeholders involved in the subsidy programme that handles fertilisers, improved seeds, pesticides, mechanisation and small-scale irrigation technology, among other items.
Regemanshuro said once completed, the platform will be accessible to farmers via their mobile phones and the Internet. He said all financial institutions will be able to access farmer information generated through the system.
Dr Mark Cyubahiro Bagabe, the Rwanda Agriculture Board Director General, said the 'Smart Nkunganire' system will help address current challenges RAB faces in the execution of its mandate. RAB is charged with transforming the agriculture sector into a knowledge-based, technology driven and market- oriented industry.
