The annual agriculture trade fair commenced June 5th to 12th June 2014 at Mulindi ground show located in Gasabo district.
It is the 9th agriculture exhibition organized by Ministry of agriculture under the theme of “transforming Agriculture for shared prosperity and improved livelihoods.
The show was launched by the Minister of Agriculture Dr. Agnes Matilda Kalibata and the Minister for Youth and ICT Nsengimana Jean Philbert who were accompanied by HIS Excellences ambassadors of German, China, Egypt and Holland.
The Minister noted the exhibition will be a good occasion for participants to share experiences on best agricultural practices, innovations and enable them forge partnerships in business.
Dr. Kalibata urged both agricultural and animal farmers to consider using modern machinery in their production so as to achieve sustainable and high yields in their productions.
She urged those who can’t afford to buy machinery for the start to rent them from the partner firms that have and are willing to rent them out to the farmers at their time of need.
She also urged farmers not to rely on seasons for planting and harvesting as they are no longer reliable due to climatic changes.
Farmers were urged to use updated farming methods like irrigation, using tractors, manure, fertilizers and so forth. These are key to farmers and neglecting them would mean neglecting yields.
“This is a good day for Rwandans to discover farming with a purpose through diversification. If you are to grow crops, do it with a purpose of yielding more and same applies to animal keepers.”
Youth were called upon to get involved in the ongoing trade show so as to learn and create jobs for themselves within the agriculture sector.
The minister assured Rwandans that the ministry has many projects and programs in place meant for the citizens and encouraged everyone to take part in these programs to benefit their livelihoods and the economy.
Among the programmes launched at the trade show Include; “shisha wumva” a campaign meant to promote milk consumption from the current 40 liters to 80 liters consumed annually.
She noted that by end of this year there will be three milk production plants in the country to increase production to deal with current high demand and satisfy the market while achieving the main objective of 80liters per individual annually.
In this regard, farmers were urged to improve hygiene for milk to satisfy the market being created for them.
The exhibition is mainly organized with goals of supporting linkage between smallholder agri-business with financial services and credit, increasing awareness and access of farmers to information on the financial products and services available in the market to all other agricultural partners.
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