The fourth phase of Rwanda’s strategic plan for agricultural transformation (PSTA 4) marked a significant chapter in the country's journey towards modernizing the sector since 2018. The plan aimed at boosting productivity and resilience, had various initiatives aimed at enhancing agricultural yields and profitability.

Here is a look at how PSTA 4’s key components have fared so far.

Hydroponics and greenhouses

One of the highlights of PSTA 4 has been the promotion of advanced farming techniques such as hydroponics and greenhouses.

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"Hydroponics and greenhouses have been gaining popularity in Rwanda over the past seven years due to their ability to increase crop yield, conserve water, and provide controlled environments for plant growth,” said Telesphore Ndabamenye, the head of the crop production and food security department at Rwanda Agriculture and Animal Resources Development Board (RAB).

"These technologies have been particularly beneficial in Rwanda where land availability and arable land are limited and are typically used for high-value crops such as vegetables, herbs, and flowers, where precise control over growing conditions is essential.”

From a survey conducted by RAB in 2022, up to 184 greenhouses are owned by the farmers and are located in 21 districts, covering an area of about 4.2 hectares across the country. Eastern Province was leading in adoption of greenhouse farming as it occupies the biggest area of around 2.18 hectares, followed by City of Kigali (0.72 hectares), Southern Province (0.64 hectares), Western Province (0.42 hectares) and Northern Province occupying 0.32 hectares.

Majority of greenhouses were established between 2018 and 2022 whereas 51 were established before 2018. Establishment of greenhouses has been on an increase, and this may be attributed to support offered by the government through matching grants provided by development projects. From the same survey, the main crops cultivated in greenhouses were sweet pepper, tomato, cucumber, and sweet melon.

Annociata Mukayuhi, a farmer in Bugesera District, turned to greenhouse farming to ensure that her vegetable crops thrive over the past five years, even during the dry season. This innovative approach has not only allowed her to maintain a steady supply of fresh produce throughout the year but also strengthened her resilience against the region’s unpredictable climate.

"Using a greenhouse has been a game-changer for me. It has allowed my vegetables to flourish, even when the weather is harsh. My produce was able to increase by 60 per cent that I can now keep up with demand, no matter the season," said Mukayuhi.

According to RAB, Hydroponics are quite few, but evolving as awareness for urban farming increases. Currently, 18 hydroponics have been established under the sponsorship of United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) piloting project for smallholder farmers for animal feeding. Upscaling of the technology is foreseeable following this piloting phase.

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Claude Izimenyera, a farmer in Rutsiro District, embraced hydroponics to revolutionize his approach to feeding his 20,000 chickens. Over the past three years, this innovative farming technique has not only reduced his monthly expenses by over Rwf50,000 but also transformed the way he manages his poultry farm.

Despite the high initial costs associated with building hydroponic systems, Izimenyera’s commitment to this method is paying off, providing a sustainable solution amid rising feed prices.

"For materials it is expensive to build as hydroponics requires a lot of iron sheets to build and cover the entire space, but it has been so helpful so far. Chicken food is increasingly costly on the market, so it is interesting and cheaper how we get to produce food for our animals and never run out of it. We manage to convert a small quantity of food into a larger quantity in a short time,” said Izimenyera.

Small-Scale irrigation and vegetable farming

The Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources (MINAGRI) explains that small-scale irrigation technology includes easy-to-use kits for 1, 5, or 10 hectares. These kits come with portable diesel or petrol pumps and pipes, as well as treadle pumps and dam sheets.

According to RAB, considering the dependency on rainfed farming amidst climate shortcomings, irrigation contributes to fostering land and crop productivity, and in most cases addressing the issue of seasonality.

Irrigation increased by around 50 per cent from 48,508 hectares in 2017 to 72,912 hectares in 2024, out of which small scale irrigation (SSIT) respectively accounts for 6,874 hectares and 19,326 hectares. This means that SSIT increased by 18 per cent throughout the PSTA 4, and currently has a share of 27 per cent of irrigated area.

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Apart from traditional irrigated crops such as rice and sugarcane, vegetables account for irrigation given their water requirements and farming either in season C or in protected environments (greenhouse or hydroponics).

"By providing a reliable water source, these systems have enabled farmers to grow vegetables and other crops year-round. The focus on vegetable farming contributed to increased availability of fresh produce and improved nutrition for households,” said Ndabamenye.

According to RAB, per the fifth population and housing census in 2022, 15 per cent of Rwandan households grow vegetables, most farmers being in Northern Province (22%). These vegetable growing households mostly venture in amaranths (11%), cabbage (3%), eggplant (3%), tomato (2%), onion (2%) and carrot (2%).

Jean Nepomuscene Gasana, a farmer in Gatsibo District, successfully used irrigation on his nine-hectare sweet potato farm to combat the challenges of farming in the dry Eastern Province.

"By adopting irrigation, I have been able to cultivate crops year-round, even during the harshest dry seasons, ensuring a consistent and reliable harvest,” said Gasana.

Fisheries and poultry

The fisheries and poultry sectors have also seen notable advancements under PSTA 4. Investments in aquaculture enhanced fish production, while improvements in poultry farming practices increased the availability of protein-rich foods. Both sectors are crucial for diversifying Rwanda’s agricultural output and improving food security.

In 2018, poultry was over 5.4 million chicken, and it was able to increase to over 6 million in 2023.

Daniel Ngendahayo, a chicken farmer in Kigali for the past eight years, has observed a significant rise in chicken consumption across Rwanda. This increase has attracted more farmers to the sector, leading to a higher number of chickens in the country.

"I had to boost my production because more people are eating chicken. I now keep over 2,000 chickens, compared to just 500 before, and they sell much faster. However, feeding them has become a bigger challenge lately,” he said.

There were up to 31,465 tonnes of fish in 2018, and they increased to 46,495 of tonnes in 2023

Samuel Hakizimana, a fisherman in Bugesera District at Lake Rweru, has seen remarkable improvements in fish production due to a new practice of alternating fishing months with periods and adding young fish to the pond. By adopting this method, local fishers have not only increased their yields but also mitigated the risks of overfishing, ensuring the sustainability of their operations.

"Before, we would fish the lake all year round, which led to overfishing. Now, with this new approach, we can maintain a healthier fish population and keep larger fish, which has significantly improved our production,” said Hakizimana.

Building resilience amid climate challenges

With climate change posing increasing challenges, PSTA 4 emphasized building resilience through climate-smart practices.

"The plan includes alternative land management techniques, such as comprehensive soil and watershed management, to complement traditional terracing methods. Better weather forecasting and early warning systems are also being introduced to help farmers adapt to changing conditions,” said Ndabamenye.

According to RAB, the area under irrigation increased by around 50 per cent from 48,508 hectares in 2017 to 72,912 hectares in 2024.

Radical terraces development increased by 29.3 per cent from 110,905 hectares in 2017 to 143,413 hectares and progressive terraces development from 923,604 hectares to 1,029,150 hectares making an increase of 11.4%.

More than 65 varieties composed of maize, wheat, soybean, beans, Irish potatoes, and Cassava have been developed and released under this resilience amid climate challenge.

Land management

According to RAB, land management efforts have enhanced productivity and stability as well.

The area under radical terraces grew by 33 per cent, and progressive terraces saw significant expansion. The area of consolidated land has increased from 635,603 hectares to 773,320 hectares marking 22 per cent of increase.

Mechanised farm operations (the use of machinery and equipment) increased from 25 per cent to 42 per cent with up to 21.7 per cent of large-scale farmers using mechanical equipment in their operations, although small scale farmers are still very few as they only make up less than one per cent of the total number.

Use of improved inputs including use of inorganic fertilizers increased from 22 per cent to 56 per cent with applications increasing from 32 kilo per hectare to 70.3 kilo per hectare. The percentage of farmers using quality seeds on consolidated sites (large scale) shifted from 52 per cent to 85.7 per cent. For small scale farmers, this is still at 35.9 per cent. And all these in general increased productivity.

Innovation and knowledge

Agricultural transformation was driven by research, innovation, and knowledge.

PSTA 4 supported the introduction of new crop varieties and disease mitigation strategies.

The use of ICT was promoted to enhance extension services, market information, and financial inclusion. Strengthening farmer organisations and fostering skills development were also key to supporting modern agri-business and expanding rural job opportunities.

Food Security and nutrition

Despite significant production growth, food security and nutrition remained key priorities. PSTA 4 adopted a food systems approach to ensure that the nutrient quality of commodities is preserved throughout the value chain. This includes strategies for enhancing household food security and resilience, particularly at the local level.

According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources, Rwanda made significant strides in food security, with rates improving from 71.3 per cent in 2018 to 79.4 per cent in 2021, and stunting rates dropping from 34.9 per cent to 32.4 per cent during the same period.

Poverty also decreased, with the rate falling from 58.9 per cent in 2001 to 38.2 per cent in 2017, largely due to agricultural development.

The percentage of food secure households stands at 79.4% in the year of 2022-2023.

Increasing exports

Key commodity production surged, with maize production increasing by 42 per cent, milk by 30 per cent, and fish by 62 per cent from 2017 to 2023.

Export revenues rose by 33.7 per cent in 2022 and 2023 standing $ 857.2 million in 2022- 2023 from $465.4 million in the fiscal year of 2018-2019, mainly driven by better prices of tea, coffee, and pyrethrum on international markets.

According to the National Agricultural Export Development Board (NAEB), other factors include facilitating farmers in achieving top-tier and helping investors in engaging with profitable markets that drive the agricultural sector growth

In the financial year 2022/2023, Rwanda exported slightly over 20,000 tonnes which brought in almost $116 million, and this represents a 53 per cent increase in coffee revenues compared to $75.5 million earned from more than 15,000 tonnes sold at international markets, according to a June 2023 statistics report by NAEB.

Strengthening markets and value chains

As noted, PSTA 4 recognized the importance of market development and value chain efficiency in transforming Rwanda’s agriculture sector.

And according to RAB, efforts were made to attract private investment, enhance market-oriented production, and reduce post-harvest losses.

Strengthened linkages between production systems and end-markets are expected to drive economic growth and improve livelihoods.

PSTA 4 was designed to achieve four strategic impact areas aligned with the Comprehensive African Agricultural Development Programme (CAADP) framework that increased wealth contribution, economic opportunity, food security, and resilience.

As Rwanda continues to implement these strategies, the country is set on a path toward a more productive, resilient, and sustainable agricultural sector.