Rwanda Governance Advisory Council (RGAC), will conduct a public survey aimed at establishing people’s opinions on three modern land management practices; crop intensification, villagisation (Imidugudu) and land consolidation.

In a meeting to review the survey methodology, Nadine Umutoni, who heads research at RGAC, remarked, "A policy made or a law passed most often affects the citizens and it is in our best interest to find out how these people feel about the policy.”

"We, in turn, advise the decision makers on how to adjust their policies and make them more public friendly, or promote them- depending on the people’s views.”

According Umutoni, the survey will kick off in early November and last four months.

The council will work with other stakeholders including ministries, local authorities and mayors.

The three policies were introduced to help citizens effectively use the small available land productively.

RGAC plans on this survey because it, amongst its roles, seeks to involve the locals in determining policies that govern them.

The research will be conducted in all the four provinces of the country.

The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Local Government, Cyrille Turatsinze, was positive about the impact of the survey, saying that it would facilitate further government planning.

"Rwanda’s land policy is creditable and unique in Africa and it has enabled all people to at least own some land,” he said.

"With the help of results of the research, we will develop better plans and review some of the existing policies to favorably chase the vision 2020.”

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