NYARUGENGE - The African Development Bank (AfDB) has donated US$ 5m to the government to boost food production for this year’s final agricultural season in the country.

The grant agreement was signed yesterday at the offices of the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning (MINICOFIN) in Kigali City between the Finance Minister James Musoni and Diko Jacob Mukete, the Resident Representative of the continental bank.

The two officials said the money will be mainly used to buy seeds and fertilisers for use in growing crops that were found favourable in different areas of the country in what government called ‘crop intensification programme’.

"We are really grateful…this [grant] is going to supplement our efforts in availing seeds and fertilisers to farmers,” Musoni said after signing the grant.

Figures from the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources indicate that Rwanda’s agricultural sector grew up to 14.8 percent this year.

Minister Musoni said that the country is expecting more increase in agricultural production next year through using fertilisers and other innovative techniques in the sector.

He assured the AfDB officials that government will put their donation to ‘good use’ because it has already designed a plan to develop the agricultural sector.

"In us you are going to have good partners,” Musoni told AfDB representatives.

The bank is set to provide more support to agriculture in African countries through its food facility and Rwanda stands chances to continue getting support due to its ‘exemplary’ leadership and management, Mukete told reporters.

"AfDB will continue to work closely with Rwanda to reduce poverty,” he said.

The government has already mapped the country into different agricultural areas where different crops are suitable for growing. They include rice, maize, Irish potatoes, cassavas, and wheat.

The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources, Ernest Ruzindaza, said that increasing the use of manure is needed to help farmers get a better harvest.

"We are yet to exploit the potential of our land for agricultural activities,” he said.

Ruzindaza revealed that, only 8,000 tonnes of fertilisers were used in Rwanda in 2006 while the country’s target is to have farmers use at least 56,000 tonnes of fertilisers by the year 2012.

He said that government has so far mobilised both police and private sector operators to ensure that manure is effectively delivered to designated farmers.

AfDB officials said that the bank’s funds donated to the government through yesterday’s agreement were delivered immediately.

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