Rwanda’s Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources is promoting the use of irrigation and mechanization in farming to raise production.
Irrigation is use of water in farming in a regulated way while mechanization is the use of machinery in agricultural activities.
The Minister of Agriculture and Animal Resources, Ms. Agnes Kalibata, says proper use of irrigation and mechanization leads to increased food production.
She says the use of machines in agriculture reduces the cost farmers incur and loss of their produce. It also reduces time farmers spend while working on farms and they can use it for other activities like marketing their produce.
Increased production can lead to better returns on the money invested in farming activities if the price is stable.
Currently, the majority of Rwandan farmers engage in traditional ways of farming such as the use of hoes with little irrigation.
Irrigation in Rwanda is essential because of the unpredictable rainfall patterns.
The minister says farmers have started appreciating the use of irrigation although more efforts are still needed to create awareness.
The use of irrigation is also being promoted in large-scale rice farming projects, according to Kalibata. This is geared towards reducing rice imports and boosting food supply. Rwanda is a net rice importer.
Mechanization is encouraged to ensure reduction of resources farmers spend on farming.
It is also encouraged to help small-scale farmers, who are the majority in Rwanda to increase production and boost their livelihoods.
The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources, Mr. Ernest Ruzindaza, says no taxes are imposed on agricultural machines.
For farmers to access loans in the banks to buy machines, they get a 25% loan guarantee from a World Bank supported Guarantee fund dubbed Rural Investment Fund (RIF).
The machines will be distributed to rural areas where farmers especially those in cooperatives would get them through hiring.
Rwanda, like most countries in the south of Sahara, highly depend on agriculture. The sector employs more than 80% of Rwanda’s active population and contributes more than 30% to the national economy.
However, it is among the least funded sectors, because of its high-risk perception whereby banks feel recovery rates could be low.
Meanwhile, a local insurance firm recently launched livestock insurance cover and weather insurance is underway, according to Mr. Ruzindaza.
This story was first published by the EastAfrican Business week
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