MPs, activists seek ways to increase agriculture output

Members of Parliament and activists have called for concerted efforts from all actors to scale up agriculture production to end poverty. The interventions, they concurred, include application of enough fertilisers, availability of improved seeds, as well as irrigation in times of drought. The remarks came up yesterday at Parliament during a consultative meeting on how to link agriculture and social protection for the vulnerable. The meeting brought together social development partners, officials from the Ministries of Local Government and Agriculture, provincial governors, and MPs. MPs said Rwanda has achieved a lot worth appreciating in the recent past but more needed to be done. They cited poverty reduction, from 58.9 per cent in 2000/2001 to 39.1 per cent in 2013/2014, as shown by figures from National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda (NISR). The Minister for Local Government, Francis Kaboneka said, currently, the Government covers full health insurance for 15 per cent of Rwandans, who are most vulnerable. On how agriculture and livestock is linked to poverty reduction and social welfare, Kaboneka noted that many of the people who receive support under social protection programmes depend on farming. He cited a group of 360 vulnerable elderly women and men in Rusizi District who came together to buy farmland. Hope to end poverty Kaboneka expressed optimism that the country will achieve its goal of ending extreme poverty by 2030 as set by the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), a blueprint of 17 ambitious global goals. Members of Parliament follow proceedings during the meeting yesterday. / Faustin Niyigena Vision 2020 seeks to reduce poverty rate from 64 per cent in 2000 to 20 per cent in 2020. “Based on the long journey we have travelled already, we hope to reach our target,” he said. Speaker Donatille Mukabalisa reiterated the importance of agriculture and livestock to the country’s economy, with the sector accounting for a third of national GDP and employing about 70 per cent of Rwandans. “Agriculture should continue to be developed both for staple food and cash crops,” she said, adding that continued collaboration among all levels is important. Call for efforts to maximise productivity MP Jean Marie Vianney Gatabazi said there is need to revolutionalise agriculture and livestock to maximise produce. Minister Geraldine Mukeshimana said about 90 per cent of agriculture produce is provided by small scale farmers owning just 0.5 hectare of land. Carrying out agriculture on this land alone would not ensure food security and development as it should, according to Minister Mukeshimana. FAO country representative Appaher Mayiga (L) with Natalia Winder Rossi, team leader for social protection at FAO headquerters in Rome, yesterday at the Parliament. / Faustin Niyigena The Global Social Protection Team Leader at FAO, Natalia Winder said there is a need to help small scale farmers increase production, contain climate change effects so as to be able to provide for their families and earn more revenues. editorial@newtimes.co.rw

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MPs, activists seek ways to increase agriculture output