New initiative to empower women farmers, boost food security

The government, through its National Strategy for Transformation (NST2) 2024-2029, aims to modernise the agriculture sector by making it market-oriented and increasing productivity. The NST2 targets a 50 per cent rise in productivity and an annual growth rate of 6 per cent. Aligned with these national goals, a three-year project titled “Improving Food Security and Boosting Farm Income for Women Smallholder Farmers in Rwanda” (IFS/KUNGAHARA) was launched. ALSO READ: Call for more support to women farmers Funded by the European Union (EU) and jointly implemented by ActionAid Rwanda (AAR) and Tubibe Amahoro (Sow Peace), this initiative is active in five districts: Nyaruguru, Gisagara, Nyanza, Musanze, and Karongi. The project, which runs from November 2023 to October 2026, supports women farmers by improving their access to agricultural inputs, thus enhancing food security and promoting economic empowerment. In a dialogue held on Monday, November 4, Tubibe Amahoro gathered stakeholders, government officials and women farmers to discuss gender equality in agriculture and to facilitate access to agri-inputs. Pierre Celestin Kabano, Executive Secretary of Tubibe Amahoro, emphasised the project’s alignment with NST2’s objectives, noting that the modernisation of agriculture requires collective effort. ALSO READ: Loans for women farmers decrease by 78% “NST2’s agricultural goals cannot be achieved without transforming farming practices. We must all work together to ensure that agricultural inputs reach farmers in time to boost productivity and benefit individual households,” he said. Tubibe Amahoro, an organisation dedicated to human rights and community-led development, operates across nine districts, including Karongi, Rutsiro, Ngororero, Nyaruguru, Nyamagabe, Nyanza, Gisagara, Burera, and Musanze. The organisation’s strategic goals focus on civil participation, justice, environmental protection, and gender promotion. Francine Mushimiyimana, Programme Manager at Tubibe Amahoro, presented insights from the FinScope 2020 survey and NISR AHS 2020 survey, noting inequality in land ownership and financial access. “Only 31 per cent of women own land for farming, and even fewer qualify for financial assistance,” she said. Mushimiyimana emphasised the need for gender equity in agriculture, citing that farms managed by women tend to be, on average, 12 per cent less productive than those managed by men. “The structure of Rwandan society and cultural norms often limit women’s decision-making power, affecting their ability to manage resources and access credit,” she explained. ALSO READ: For development, let women own land She further outlined solutions to close the gender gap in agriculture, such as expanding the availability of high-quality seeds, promoting cooperative lending for smallholder farmers, and supporting shared land-use rights. “By strengthening cooperatives and ensuring inclusive access to resources, we can empower women farmers and achieve a more balanced agricultural sector,” she added. Anatalie Niyonambaje, a farmer from Gisagara District, shared her experience with sustainable farming practices learned through the project. “We learned to make organic fertilisers from compost and earthworms (vermicompost), which benefits both our crops and the environment,” she said. Niyonambaje also noted the support they received in connecting with financial institutions and securing markets, such as providing produce to local schools. “These partnerships are helping us overcome challenges and invest in our communities,” she added. Stressing the role of civil society, Emmanuel Twagirayezu, Irrigation and Mechanisation Specialist at the Ministry of Agriculture, commended Tubibe Amahoro for its contribution to Rwanda’s social and economic development. “Tubibe Amahoro plays a role in agriculture development by educating communities on income-generating projects and promoting gender equality. Their work complements our national goals by enhancing agricultural productivity through improved input accessibility,” he said. He added: “There is still a need to increase efforts in agriculture to reach the goals the country has set.” He also noted that increasing fertiliser availability requires collaboration with partners, mentioning a fertiliser blending plant in Bugesera District that produces up to 100,000 tonnes annually. He further emphasised that the presentation shows how women progress, aligning with the government’s ongoing efforts to support them.

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New initiative to empower women farmers, boost food security