Over 1000 farmers trained in post-harvest management

Over 1,140 farmers across the country have successfully completed a training programme in post-harvest management conducted by the Post - Harvest and Agribusiness Support Project (PASP). More than 11 districts have so far benefited from the project, according to Innocent Musabyimana, the Permanent secretary, Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources. “PASP is enhancing the skills of farmers through regular trainings to increase skills in Post-harvest production handling and storage technical knowhow. The trainings also provide the beneficiaries with skills required throughout the harvesting period; mainly from time of harvesting and preparation of harvesting activities, among others,” Musabyimana noted. The project was launched on 28th March 2014 following a Memorandum of Understanding signed between the Rwanda Agriculture Board (RAB) and PASP. Statistics from the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources indicate that post-harvest losses have reduced to 10.4% currently from 30% in 2006. Christine Murebwayire, the chairperson Chamber of Agriculture and Association of Rwanda Farmers said the project will not only boost productivity, but will also help streamline the sector. “This will obviously lure more private investments into the sector and ultimately boost our competitiveness,” she noted. A report by World Bank, last year indicated that Agriculture production and commercialisation contributed 32 per cent of Rwanda’s consumption growth over the past 10 years. And according to the National Institute of Statistics Rwanda (NSIR), the agriculture sector remained the main driver of economic growth during the third quarter of 2014 contributing 34% to the national GDP. Recently, the Rwanda Agriculture Board (Rab) announced the set up of a quality infrastructure for the cold chain system in Kigali Special Economic Zone to reduce on the fish post-harvest losses. Government through the second Economic Development and Poverty Reduction Strategy (EDPRS2) is targeting to increase production and help create more than 200,000 off farm jobs. It is therefore envisaged that agriculture will play a key role in the realisation of this objective.

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Over 1000 farmers trained in post-harvest management