Agriculture is one of the three main sectors – along with construction and manufacturing – that Rwanda looks to leverage in its bid to jump-start the economy in view of the impact of the post-Covid pandemic. The sector, according to official statistics, contributes about 30 per cent to the country’s GDP, and is seen as a key driver of job creation. In fact, when the pandemic arrived the country was two years into the implementation of an ambitious Rwf2.3 trillion agriculture plan primed to help half poverty levels in ten years until 2024. The Strategic Plan for Agriculture Transformation, or PSTA4, is expected to create tens of thousands of jobs, which would go a long way in helping address the challenge of unemployment. The strategy is also seen as a major tool that would help the government deliver the 2017-2024 National Strategy for Transformation, but also meet its commitments under continental frameworks for agriculture development. African countries committed to implementing the 2015 Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) and the 2014 Malabo Declaration on Accelerated Agricultural Growth and Transformation for Shared Prosperity and Improved Livelihoods, both of which seek to promote agriculture-led growth and enable countries to end poverty and hunger by 2025. As well as the two continental instruments, the 2018-2024 national Agriculture Transformation Strategy aims at protecting and building resilience of smallholder farmers (who are highly vulnerable to climate change), enhancing inclusion across the value chain, increasing public spending and mobilising private investments, boosting productivity, creating jobs, among others. PSTA4 came as an important piece of the jigsaw as far as national agriculture targets were concerned. However, an assessment by the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning concluded earlier this year that the country was not on track to meet its commitments under the plan. It was found that implementation was off-track in several aspects, including crop productivity, funding, irrigation and value chain. But it’s not too late to get back on track – despite the Covid situation. One of the ways to ensure that things get back on track is to improve in coordination and embracing a multisectoral approach. For instance, there seems to be a disagreement on the issue of subsidies. While some stakeholders are pushing for a broader seeds subsidy scheme for farmers, there are others opposed to this effort, including in the private sector, arguing that this undermines fair competition. That key players in the sector are not fully informed about subsidy extension services points to information gap or loose consultation on key intervention programmes. And this affects output both in the short and medium term. It is important that the Ministry of Agriculture and other relevant stakeholders ensure that all stakeholders are on the same page and take part, or are consulted, in key sector decisions. This in itself could go a long way towards putting PSTA4 back on track and ultimately help achieve intended objectives.
