Kigali City Council (KCC), in conjunction with the Ministry of Agriculture, on Thursday kicked off a campaign to implement urban agriculture in line with the city master plan.

The campaign was launched at the KCC headquarters in a function that brought together all stakeholders among them development partners, civil society and banks and was presided over by city Mayor, Dr Aisa Kirabo Kacyira.

Kirabo said that the implementation of urban farming will help in the fight against poverty and ensure food security.

The farming will be conducted according to the Urban Planning Agriculture (UPA) strategic plan which was designed by KCC in conjunction with the City of Rome.

Among the types of farming to be practiced under this program include horticulture and coffee farming whose implementation will be overseen by districts and cooperative societies within the city.

The Director General of Rwanda Horticulture Development Authority (RHODA), Magnifique Nzaramba, advised that the practice be aligned to schools’ curricula to encourage students take part in the agricultural sector.

The exercise is intended to also curb the rate of idleness around the city by creating jobs, especially among street children.

Nzaramba further recommended that farming be introduced at facilities such as hospitals to help patients with nutritional problems.

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