{The research carried out by the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources (MINAGRI) in collaboration with the National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda (NISR) on Comprehensive Food Security and Vulnerability Analysis (CFSVA) indicated that more than 17% of Rwandans having food suffiency are likely to starve and add to the existing 3% of Rwandans faced with food shortage.}
The research was carried out in April and May 2015 with a sample size of 7500 households in all districts of the country.
The outcome of the research indicates that 3% of Rwandan households are affected by food insecurity while 17% are likely to fall under this category if their stored harvest are all consumed.
Commenting on the results yesterday, the permanent secretary in MINAGRI, Innocent Muhayimana said the 17% need assistance to boost their security levels.
“There is a category of 17% of Rwandans in need of support since they would lack food if they don’t get assistance even though they currently have something to eat,” he said.
The survey indicates that Western Province is the most affected by food insecurity where 65% are susceptible, making malnutrition and stunted growth a common occurrence. In 2012 Rwanda had 43% of children facing stunted growth which has since reduced to 36.7%.
MINAGRI says that in most cases, some people lack food while others’ yields go to waste due to poor harvest handling.
The director of NISR, Yusuf Murangwa said that rising prices may be the cause of lack of food among the 75% of Rwandans.
Jean Pierre de Margerie, the World Food Program (WFP) country representative said that stakeholders need to establish whether people have the capacity to buy food at local markets and initiate various programs enabling citizens to have food all year round.
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