Kagame urges bolder steps for transformation

President Paul Kagame, yesterday, paid tribute to the country’s farmers whom he said have continued to play a crucial role in the country’s growth, through increased productivity. Citing the contribution of agriculture to the 7.8 per cent growth rate posted in the third quarter of 2014 to which the sector contributed 1.8 percentage points, Kagame said agriculture remains a cornerstone in the country’s development, pledging more support in modern farming. First Lady Jeannette Kagame shares a light moment with the Minister in the President’s Office, Venantie Tugireyezu (L), and the Minister for Gender and Family Promotion, Oda Gasinzingwa (R), at the 12th Umushyikirano at Parliament on Thursday. The President was simultaneously delivering the State of the Nation Address and the opening remarks at the annual Twelfth Umushyikirano (National Dialogue) at the Parliamentary Buildings in Kimihurura, Kigali. The 12th Umushyikirano attracted the countrys top leaders, including Cabinet ministers, among other senior and local leaders. Figures released by the National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda (NISR), on Wednesday, indicate that agriculture accounted for 34 per cent of GDP, trailing only the services sector, which contributes 47 per cent. “Most Rwandans live off agriculture, a sector that accounts for one-third of GDP and grew by a margin of 6 per cent over the last year,” Kagame said, underlining the pivotal role of cultivators and livestock farmers in the country’s bid to achieve its economic targets. The President said farmers had not only ensured the country was food secure but have even had surplus for export markets. He pledged more support toward modernising farming as well as scaling up irrigation. The function was attended by several foreign dignitaries, including members of the Diplomatic Corps accredited to Rwanda, and other foreign invitees. Kagame took stock of the fact that much had been achieved in the past years due to the change in people’s attitude and perception and added that the year 2014 was no ordinary year. “We are the same people and this is the same country, yet everything is completely different, because our mindset has changed” he said, adding that recent trends in the economy suggest that the country will surpass its growth projections for 2014. The strength of agriculture According to NISR figures, the economy generated goods and services worth Rwf1,393 billion in the third quarter of 2014, up from Rwf1,233 billion produced during the same period in 2013. Participants were in a cheerful mood. Growth in agriculture productivity was mainly attributed to the strong performance in the second season that saw production of food crops shoot up by 7 per cent. Kagame also pointed out that land was now demarcated and more than six million land titles had been issued. “Technology is increasingly becoming part of the daily life of every citizen. Mobile money accounts have increased to five million up from one million in 2011,” he told the audience that included First Lady Jeannette Kagame. Kagame said in the energy sector, there had been a 40 per cent increase in power generation in the second half of 2014, suggesting that similar trends were expected in the coming years. A cross-section of participants follow the proceedings during Umushyikirano at Parliament Buildings yesterday. (Courtesy) He attributed the increment to the continued rollout of hydro and solar power generation projects. On the international scene, the President thanked African countries that entrusted Rwanda with the responsibility of representing them at the UN Security Council and the countries that worked closely with Rwanda on the Council during its 2013-14 tenure. Rwanda’s two-year non-permanent membership of the UNSC ends later this year. Delegates arrive for the annual dialogue at Parliament yesterday. Kagame also praised the Rwandan men and women in uniform serving in several international peacekeeping missions across the world for performing their assignments with distinction, thus bringing honour to their country. To better prepare the youth for the labour market, he said, technical and vocational education and training schools had increased more than five times as the country puts more emphasis on skills that respond to the demands of the labour market. “We have made unprecedented strides in building our health sector which have resulted in real gains in health of our people. Everything we are doing is fundamentally about preserving and enhancing life,” he said. On human trafficking, the President reiterated that Rwandans were not for sale and called for concerted efforts to fight the crime. He sounded a stern warning against those behind human trafficking, and challenged government agencies charged with fighting the crime to reverse the trend.

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Kagame urges bolder steps for transformation