The Ministry of Agriculture can do more to enhance research that addresses challenges such as crop diseases and lack of adequate improved seeds to meet agricultural targets, lawmakers said yesterday.

Senators on Committee of Economic Development and Finance said there is need to strengthen the existing research center managed by the Rwanda Agriculture Board and build partnerships with higher learning agro-institution to see how academic research can be of use.

Speaking during a meeting with ministry officials in Kigali, yesterday, the lawmakers said crop diseases are still an issue, and getting improved seeds remains a challenge.

The meeting was convened following field visits carried out by the law makers.

The lawmakers learned that farmers will need improved and affordable seeds as well fertilisers, if they are to meet their targets.

The scarce seeds include cassava stems, maize, and Irish potatoes.

The report also faults agronomists at local government levels whom farmers accuse of sitting in their offices instead of being in the fields and supporting them.

The agronomists are supposed to be helping farmers plant seeds properly and guide them on how best to improve agriculture productivity, but farmers claimed that agronomists were not aware of what is happening on the ground, the MPs said,

Due to lack of support, there were cases in Rusizi, Rwamangana, Nyagatare districts, where seeds were mixed up, affecting the yields.

The committee president, Jacqueline Muhongayire, called on the ministry to involve the private sector more and set up seed multiplication avenues to resolve the issue of seed shortages.

Geraldine Mukeshimana, the minister for agriculture, said existing research centers were being empowered to come up with new innovations.

The ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Jean Claude Kayisinga, said they have set up a fund to support seed multipliers who are operational in selected districts and they have a plan to scale it up to other districts.

"Apart from agronomists we seek also to empower other local extension workers and agro dealers. But we are also aware that some farmers are not enthusiastic to embrace modern farming policies. We will continue to sensitise them through local authorities to change their mindset,” Mukeshimana said, adding that her office will look into the complaints regarding inactive agronomists.

The report commends terracing activities in Nyamagabe District, as exemplary in fighting soil erosion, though in many areas most of them were found not being utilised for crop growing.

The ministry pledged to step in to ensure those unexploited terraces can be used productively.

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