Farmers have been urged to increase productivity by embracing modern cultivation methods as one of the ways to respond to climate-related challenges.

The call was made by the Minister for Agriculture and Animal Resources, Dr Gerardine Mukeshimana, while closing an Agriculture exhibition at Mulindi, Kigali, on Monday.

The week-long exhibition was held under the theme, "Invest in agricultural innovations for prosperity.”

Speaking at the event, the minister reminded farmers to start preparing for the upcoming growing season, adopt modern farming techniques and increase production to satisfy growing local and regional market.

She called on farmers to adopt irrigation and ensure collective responsibility in tackling climate change effects.She reaffirmed government’s commitment to supporting irrigation through subsidies on machinery.

The minister said the exhibition was a good occasion to learn new things that can help to develop the sector.

Dr Innocent Matabishi, the policy officer agri-business at the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, who was representing exhibiters, said such agriculture fairs can trigger investment and innovation in Rwanda.

He said previous edition of the annual-expo was successful with a big number of visitors who were interested in new knowledge, services and technology, among others.

"We want to share and generate businesses in Rwanda’s journey to transform agriculture,” Matabishi said.

Isaac Chege, director of East Africa Grain Council (EAGC), one of the exhibitors, assured of their organisation’s commitment to supplying resources for development of agribusiness in Rwanda and the wider region.

"We supply seeds and machinery, but also we are buyers and producers, so our work is to identify the area where there are problems which we can help address,” he said.

Tharcisse Twahirwa, the president of KUTUKA grains cooperative from Nyagatare District, told The New Times that the exhibition offered them an opportunity to network with different professional farmers.

"It is not our first time to exhibit here, but some of our new cooperative members have also learned different agricultural techniques. I believe we are going to work hard to improve our production,” Twahirwa said.

He, however, said that they are yet to adopt irrigation due to insufficient water in their region.

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