Rwanda Agriculture and Animal Resources Development Board (RAB) has announced an increase in agricultural production for the first quarter of 2024, spanning from September 2023 to February 2024, with an increase of 316,000 tons in crop yield compared to the previous year.
Increasing from 4,063,804 tons in 2023 season A to 4,379,725 tons in 2024 season A, this performance comes ahead of Umuganura celebration, a cultural festival in which communities come together to share the harvest, set to take place on August 2.
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The implementation of the integrated agricultural policy followed a special meeting in September 2023 that brought together various agencies involved in agriculture. This policy shift came in response to widespread public concern over food insecurity in previous years.
According to RAB, several strategies were implemented to boost agricultural production. They include putting to use uncultivated land, utilizing artificial fertilizers and use of improved seeds, irrigating hilly areas, and constructing level terraces.
The Director General of RAB, Telesphore Ndabamenye, noted that cultivation on previously unused land significantly contributed to the increased production this season. By collaborating with local governments, RAB identified these lands and encouraged citizens to utilize them.
"This type of land was particularly found in Nyagatare, Gatsibo, Kayonza, and Kirehe districts, among others, where farmers reserved large portions for cattle keeping. We mobilized them to keep their animals in designated areas and cultivate the other parts, which greatly helped to boost production," Ndabamenye explained.
"Food security is crucial for our nation, and we are grateful for the progress we have made so far. The upcoming Umuganura will offer an important opportunity for Rwandans to reflect on the past season&039;s achievements, address any gaps, and set goals for the future. This process helps us ensure that every Rwandan has access to food while also contributing to market growth and driving sustainable development for our nation.”
All these measures that helped increase production have, overall, reduced prices of some food products on the market, and this is a plan that will continue even in other seasons, Ndebamenye said.
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In the 2024 A crop season, 7.5% of the population used irrigation to increase production and 90.6% of farmers adopted anti-erosion ditches, with many others receiving government assistance to create and implement terraces in various regions.
Evariste Harerimana, the chairperson of Kiwunuzi Cooperative of rice farmers in Ngoma and Kirehe districts, highlighted the significant impact of their irrigation and erosion control methods.
By organizing swamps to direct water to their crops, they successfully increased their cooperative's production from 2,400 tons to 2,800 tons.
"In the 2023 D season, we faced severe erosion that devastated many of our crops and negatively impacted our production. However, we learned how to better manage our swamps to channel water to our crops effectively and retain water for future irrigation. This strategic approach has greatly enhanced our production," Harerimana explained.
"Moreover, it was not just the improved swamp organization that made a difference. The judicious use of fertilizers also played a crucial role in boosting our yield."
Data from RAB shows that 39.7% of the population used improved seeds in the 2024 A crop season, which has increased production as shown by the majority of maize and rice farmers across the country. Maize and rice were the most produced crops in the season.
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Maize production rose from 390,879 tons to 507,985 tons, representing a 30 per cent increase compared to the previous season. Rice production also grew from 63,688 tons to 69,098 tons, marking an 8 per cent increase over the same period.
Jean Nepo Nsabimana, the chairperson of Twiteze Imbere Musha cooperative of maize farmers, highlighted the significant impact of adopting improved seeds.
"Before we started using the improved seeds, our 15 hectares of land would yield no more than 40 tons. But ever since we introduced these seeds, our production has doubled, now reaching up to 80 tons. This year, we will celebrate Umuganura with a lot of excitement, discussing how we can maintain this level of production and ensure we continue to move forward without any setbacks,” explained Nsabimana.
Diammonium phosphate (DAP), Urea and nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium (NPK) were the most widely used fertilizers in the season.
The percentage of fertilizer use is high, RAB indicates, even with the participation of smallholder farmers including wetland rice farmers.
"Initially, we used local manure from animal waste due to the high cost of industrial fertilizers. However, in 2023, the price of fertilizers dropped from Rwf800 to Rwf600, making them more accessible to every farmer. Additionally, the government provided us with 1.5 tons of fertilizers for the 2023 and 2024 seasons, which significantly boosted our production,” Nsabimana said.
According to the National Institute of Statistics (NISR), the country’s total land area is estimated at 2.376 million hectares, with 1.372 million hectares (58% of total land in the country) used for agriculture.
Out of the total agricultural land, 1.049 million hectares were used for Seasonal crops in season A, with 0.511 million hectares being used for farming (crops), and 0.124 million hectares are under permanent pasture.
Overall, there was an increase in the production of major crops compared to Season A of the previous year of seven per cent.