Under the Second National Strategy for Transformation (NST2) and the Fifth Strategic Plan for Agricultural Transformation (PSTA5), Rwanda is shifting from subsistence production to modern, competitive, and climate‑resilient agri‑food systems. Achieving this transformation requires a deeper understanding of, among others, who is producing, what they produce, how they produce, how inputs and finance are accessed, and under which ecological and market conditions. Addressing these questions is at the heart of the upcoming Rwanda National Agricultural Census (RNAC).
From Data to Decisions
Rwanda has made strong progress in building a credible agricultural statistical system, through regular implementation of agricultural surveys that reflect the efforts of the Government of Rwanda’s longstanding commitment to evidence-based policymaking. Existing surveys, while indispensable, do not fully capture the diversity and complexity of the agricultural landscape. Coverage of non-household actors such as cooperatives, commercial farms, and public production units remains limited.
While emerging subsectors, including aquaculture and fisheries, mechanization, community-level infrastructure such as milk collection centers, markets, irrigation schemes, veterinary and agri services, are not yet sufficiently and regularly documented. Most importantly, available data often lack the level of disaggregation and spatial details needed for planning and implementation at district, sector, and cell levels, which are central to Rwanda’s decentralized development model and “Imihigo” performance framework.
With the financial and technical support of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the RNAC responds directly to these needs. For the first time, it will generate a comprehensive, nationwide picture of all agricultural holdings across both household and non-household sectors. By producing data at the lowest administrative levels, the census will support more targeted and quality investments, improved service delivery, and stronger accountability.
Aligned with Rwanda’s National Vision
The RNAC, being a strategic national investment; it sits at the intersection of national priorities of (i) producing robust and timely evidence to support inclusive, nutrition-sensitive, and market-oriented growth, and (ii) the importance of high-quality, disaggregated data to guide national and decentralized planning as stated in NST 2 and NSDS 4, respectively. It will also provide the baseline evidence required to design, monitor, and evaluate policies and programmes performance, including SDGs, Agenda 2063, and facilitate ensuring that public and private investments in agriculture deliver maximum impact for farmers and Rwandan citizens.
RNAC will also provide input data to the Agricultural Management Information System (AMIS) that is currently being developed under the leadership of MINAGRI. The development of AMIS marks a strategic transition from fragmented digital silos to a unified, impact-driven ecosystem that treats agricultural data as a vital public good.
FAO’s Commitment to Evidence Based Transformation
With the strategic, technical and financial support of FAO, Rwanda has successfully produced a robust, costed RNAC Project Document and built the capacity of a multi-institutional national team (MINAGRI, MINECOFIN, MINALOC, NISR and, RAB), positioning Rwanda for immediate rollout, strong national ownership, and a data-driven agricultural transformation journey.
The census is aligned with the FAO World Programme for the Census of Agriculture 2030 (WCA2030), ensuring that Rwanda’s agricultural statistics meet international standards while remaining firmly grounded in national priorities.
A Shared Public Good
The RNAC is a public good whose benefits will extend well beyond a single exercise. Its success depends on strong national leadership and continued collaboration among government institutions, development partners, and stakeholders.
Investing in agricultural data yields high returns. Reliable data informs better policies, reduces inefficiencies, and enables more effective targeting of resources. Continued technical innovation, capacity strengthening, and support for data use will be essential to ensure that census results translate into action on the ground.
Counting What Truly Matters
Likewise, RNAC is more than a count of farms and fields. It is an investment in smarter policies, better-targeted programmes, and a more resilient and inclusive agrifood system. FAO remains committed to working alongside the Government of Rwanda and its partners to ensure that this investment delivers lasting value.
At FAO, we believe that better data leads to better decisions, and that better decisions are the foundation of Better Production, Better Nutrition, Better Environment, and a Better Life for all, leaving no one behind.
FAO is partnering with the Government of Rwanda to mobilize USD 9.9 million over four years for the RNAC, an essential investment tool to unlock Rwanda’s agricultural potential, drive rural prosperity, strengthen food security, and fuel sustainable, inclusive economic growth.
By counting what truly matters today, Rwanda is laying the foundation for a more food-secure, resilient, and prosperous future, where every farmer counts, every community is visible, and every decision is guided by evidence.
Mohamed Aw-Dahir is the Representative of FAO in Rwanda
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