Dr. Patrick Karangwa, Director General for Agriculture Modernization at the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources, said the country no longer relies on imported seeds because local production has increased significantly.
He made the remarks on March 5, 2026, during a preparatory meeting for an international seed trade conference that Rwanda will host for the third time from July 20–21, 2026.
Karangwa noted that between five and seven years ago, Rwanda imported seeds costing over Rwf 5 billion annually. Today, all seeds are produced domestically.
“There are no longer seeds being imported because of the efforts invested in research, including cross-breeding varieties to produce high-quality seeds and scaling up local production,” he said. “Some producers have even begun exporting seeds.”
He added that the global seed market is valued at Rwf 60 trillion, while Africa accounts for only about 2 percent, underscoring the need to strengthen the continent’s role in seed trade.
“To boost Rwanda’s position in the seed trade, we have been collaborating with international bodies that assess seed quality to obtain certification confirming that our products meet global standards,” he explained.
Innocent Namuhoranye, Chairperson of the National Seed Association of Rwanda (NSAR), said the conference will be a platform to accelerate efforts to position Rwanda as a regional hub for seed trade.
“This event will lay the foundation for continued innovation and strategic approaches to advance seed trade across Africa,” he said.
The conference aims to highlight the role of the private sector in seed production while promoting reforms to strengthen the industry and expand access to quality seeds.
Alex Bizimana, Head of Agribusiness at Bank of Kigali, said the bank continues to support agriculture through financing and is already seeing strong results.
“Since 2023, agricultural lending by the bank has grown by 245 percent. Previously, it doubled annually, and now we aim to scale it even further,” he noted.
The third International Seed Trade Conference in Rwanda will attract more than 300 participants from Africa, Asia, Europe, and Australia.
Currently, Rwanda hosts about 30 companies involved in the multiplication of improved seeds.
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