Running from June 18 to 27, the exhibition attracted about 500 exhibitors, according to Rwanda’s Ministry of Agriculture.
From smart irrigation systems and high-yield crop varieties to modern machinery, smart farming tools and climate-smart solutions, visitors can see real farming solutions in action which have been tested, proven, and ready to adopt.
Also on display are tractors, precision seeders, harvesters, and other impressive machines that showcase how mechanization is transforming agriculture in Rwanda.
Fredy Karegeya, head of seed production at a local seed company, said that the adoption of smart systems and innovation has enabled their seed production to thrive and make a real impact on food systems in the country.
“We work on three crops including maize, beans and soybeans, the major one being maize. In maize seed production, we have almost four varieties and others in the pipeline coming soon after the performance trial. One of the maize varieties we developed is suitable for dry lands, a variety that produces high yields ranging from nine metric tons to 12 metric tons per hectare,” Karegeya told Xinhua in a recent interview.
“This maize variety is new and has the capacity to withstand the changing climate with a shorter maturity period of three months. This variety plays a key role in ensuring sustainable food systems, whereby farmers get high quality production and get seeds in time,” he added.
Earlier, Minister of Agriculture and Animal Resources Mark Cyubahiro Bagabe said the annual event offers a platform for showcasing technologies, innovative practices, and partnerships that address the challenges in agriculture from climate change to post-harvest losses.
Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir, the Chief of the General Staff of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), says the military will “respond with force” to what it calls Iran’s “severe violation”.
“In light of the severe violation of the ceasefire carried out by the Iranian regime, we will respond with force,” Eyal Zamir is quoted as saying in a post on X by the IDF.
But Iran’s General Staff of the Armed Forces Abdolrahim Mousavi has denied firing any missiles towards Israel in the last few hours, according to Iranian state media.
President Trump announced Monday that Israel and Iran had reached a formal agreement to implement a complete and total ceasefire, marking what he called the end of the “12-Day War.”
In a post on his Truth Social platform at 6:02 p.m. Monday, Trump congratulated both nations and revealed that the ceasefire will begin in approximately six hours, following the completion of each side’s ongoing military operations. The ceasefire will initially last 12 hours, during which the opposing side will maintain a posture of “peace and respect.”
According to Trump, Iran will initiate the ceasefire, followed by Israel 12 hours later, culminating in an official declaration of the war’s end at the 24-hour mark.
“On the assumption that everything works as it should, which it will,” Trump wrote, “I would like to congratulate both countries… on having the stamina, courage, and intelligence to end what should be called ‘THE 12 DAY WAR.’”
Calling the agreement a breakthrough that “could have saved the Middle East from years of destruction,” Trump ended his announcement with a sweeping message of unity: “God bless Israel, God bless Iran, God bless the Middle East, God bless the United States of America, and GOD BLESS THE WORLD!”
BKGI is one of the participants in the 18th edition of the Agricultural Show, held at Mulindi in Gasabo District. The event, which runs from June 18 to June 27, 2025, brings together individuals from various sectors related to agriculture and livestock farming.
The crop and livestock insurance program aims to protect farmers and livestock keepers from financial setbacks that could disrupt their projects, while also enhancing confidence among financial institutions that provide loans in the agriculture and livestock sectors.
Michael Benjamin Rusizanibakwe, Crop Insurance Manager at BK Insurance Ltd emphasized the company’s goal of supporting the growth of farmers and livestock keepers through insurance services and loans.
Since the launch of agribusiness insurance in 2021, BKGI has compensated farmers and livestock keepers for losses exceeding Frw 3 billion.
“Losses are related to various reasons. In agriculture, they are mostly due to climate change, while in livestock farming, losses are often caused by diseases or unexpected deaths like accidents,” Rusizanibakwe explained.
He urged farmers and livestock keepers to consider insurance services as their businesses are prone to sudden losses. BK Insurance offers a dependable solution to help mitigate these risks.
The insurance also protects the capital invested. For instance, if a farmer incurs a loss, BK Insurance reimburses the capital to allow them to replant.
“For livestock keepers, if they lose an animal due to death, we compensate them based on the value of the animal, enabling them to purchase a new one and continue their business,” he noted.
He further highlighted that BK Insurance not only provides coverage but also continues to assist clients by offering guidance, advice, and training on running profitable businesses.
Additionally, those insured by BK Insurance are granted easier access to loans from the Bank of Kigali.
Rusizanibakwe concluded by expressing gratitude to the government for organizing the exhibition, which benefits various sectors, particularly farmers, livestock keepers, and businesses, by showcasing their products.
In agriculture, BKGI insures crops such as rice, maize, potatoes, pepper, beans, soybeans, and cassava. In livestock, the company insures dairy cows, bulls, pigs, chickens, and fish.
The crop insurance covers the period from planting to harvest, while livestock insurance is valid for one year.
The event was combined with the “Rwanda Youth Racing Cup” cycling competition, where 154 young cyclists, aged between 11 and 19, participated in the sixth edition of the race.
Officials from the Ministry of Sports, the Rwanda Olympic Committee, the Rwanda Cycling Federation (FERWACY), and other guests were also in attendance.
The celebration featured cycling races in different age categories: 11, 13, 15, 17, and 19-year-olds. After the races, the participants received key messages encouraging them to embrace the Olympic values of excellence, friendship, and respect.
This year’s global theme for Olympic Day was “Let’s Move,” which aims to inspire people to engage in sports and develop a passion for physical activity.
Alice Umulinga, President of the Rwanda Olympic Committee, thanked all the participants and organizers. She also highlighted the talent displayed by the young cyclists, which she believes shows great potential for Rwanda’s future representation in the Youth Olympic Games in Dakar, Senegal, in 2026.
She said, “Today, we celebrate the three Olympic values, which are also representative of the values we hold dear as Rwandans. We are preparing for youth competitions next year, and I am confident we will be well represented. And in two years, in Los Angeles, we will represent ourselves with pride.”
Florent Habyarimana, who represented the Ministry of Sports, expressed his appreciation to the event organizers and the young athletes. He emphasized that this event was a great opportunity to prepare those who will represent Rwanda in Dakar.
He added, “The Minister wants these games to be the beginning of progress and international success. This year and in the years ahead, the Ministry of Sports will prioritize these athletes. I assure you that we fully support you.”
All the children who participated in the event received certificates signed by both the President of the International Olympic Committee and the President of the Rwanda Olympic Committee.
Olympic Day marked every year on June 23, serves as a time to reflect on the founding of the International Olympic Committee by Pierre de Coubertin on June 23, 1894. It is also an opportunity to promote Olympic values, celebrate sports, and recognize the benefits of physical activity.
Majid bin Mohammed Al-Ansari, advisor to the Prime Minister and spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said Qatar’s defenses successfully thwarted the attack and shot down the Iranian missiles.
In a statement, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said it had launched a missile campaign dubbed the “Annunciation of Victory,” targeting U.S. military bases in both Iraq and Qatar.
The IRGC described Al Udeid as “the headquarters of the U.S. Air Force and the largest strategic asset” of the U.S. Army in West Asia.
“Iran will not leave any attack on its territorial integrity, sovereignty, and national security unanswered under any circumstances,” the IRGC added in the statement.
Airspace over Qatar and the neighboring United Arab Emirates was closed ahead of the attacks.
Qatar says no casualties were caused in the Iranian attacks.
Lamine Bah joined APR FC in the previous season and played a key role in helping the team secure three trophies, including the Rwanda Premier League Championship, which earned them a spot in the CAF Champions League.
Lamine Bah will continue to play an important role in APR FC’s lineup in the upcoming season.
After his wedding, he is expected to focus on preparations for returning to Rwanda and getting ready for international competitions.
The 23-year-old midfielder previously played for Olympique de Béja in Tunisia and was part of the Mali U-23 national team that qualified for the Olympic Games during their qualification tournament in Morocco.
The decision to shut down this vital route is seen as a strategy by Iran to pressure Israel and the U.S. to cease their military actions.
The closure of the Hormuz Strait is linked to the U.S. strikes on Iranian targets. Iran intends to use the closure as leverage to influence its adversaries and halt military aggression.
After the Parliament’s decision, Iran’s Supreme National Security Council began discussing the implementation of the resolution.
The Hormuz Strait lies between Iran and Oman and sees the daily transit of between 16 million and 21 million barrels of oil, accounting for 20% of the global oil transport.
Oil-producing countries in the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), including Iran, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and Kuwait, heavily rely on this route to export oil, primarily to Asia.
Countries allied with the U.S. also use the route for transporting oil. In response, the U.S. stationed warships in Bahrain to protect commercial vessels passing through the strait.
A closure of Hormuz would severely disrupt the economies of many countries as oil is a key energy source and an essential driver of economic development globally. Economic analysts predict that the price of crude oil could soar from $74 per barrel to between $120 and $130.
Although the closure would significantly harm Iran, which depends heavily on the route for its own oil exports, it would also impact its allies, including China, which imports around 90% of its oil from Iran.
The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) reports that in the first quarter of 2025, Saudi Arabia transported 5.3 million barrels of oil per day through the Strait, Iraq 3.2 million barrels, and the UAE 1.8 million barrels. Iran itself exported 1.5 million barrels per day.
Vandana Hari, founder of energy intelligence firm Vanda Insights, told CNBC’s “Squawk Box Asia” that the possibility of closure remains “absolutely minimalistic.”
If Iran blocks the strait, the country risks turning its neighboring oil producing countries into enemies and risks hostilities with them, she said.
Furthermore, a closure would also provoke Iran’s market in Asia, particularly China, which accounts for a majority of Iranian oil exports.
“So very, very little to be achieved, and a lot of self inflicted harm that Iran could do” Hari said.
However, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio called on China to use its influence with the Iranian government to discourage Tehran from closing the Strait of Hormuz.
“I encourage the Chinese government in Beijing to call them about that, because they heavily depend on the Straits of Hormuz for their oil,” Rubio, who also serves as national security adviser, told Fox News.
“If they do that, it will be another terrible mistake. It’s economic suicide for them if they do it. And we retain options to deal with that, but other countries should be looking at that as well. It would hurt other countries’ economies a lot worse than ours.”
In the past, Iran had threatened to close Hormuz in retaliation against the U.S., but never followed through. This time, attention is on Iran’s security council, which will make the final decision.
{{Rwanda stays alert}}
Rwanda is one of the countries that imports oil through the Hormuz Strait. For oil to reach Rwanda, it passes through the Arabian Gulf, then through the Indian Ocean to either Mombasa, Kenya, or Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
During a discussion with parliamentarians on June 19, 2025, Rwanda’s Minister of Infrastructure, Dr. Jimmy Gasore, explained that disruptions in the Hormuz Strait could affect Rwanda due to potential price hikes.
“[…] A disruption there would impact the global market, and consequently, Rwanda. We would likely experience a price increase or reduced import volumes,” he said.
Rwanda’s Prime Minister, Dr. Edouard Ngirente, informed Parliament that since the emergence of conflict between Israel and Iran on June 13, Rwanda has set up a task force to assess potential impacts on the country.
“We are closely monitoring the situation with daily updates on oil prices, our national reserves, weekly imports, and how it affects shipments from Dar es Salaam or Mombasa,” he said.
Currently, Rwanda has seven oil reserves containing 117.2 million liters of petroleum products, including gasoline, diesel, and aviation fuel. The country has taken steps to build up its reserves to mitigate the effects of fluctuating prices due to international conflicts.
This plant is one of three expected to be built in the different districts of Kigali. The first one is being constructed in Nyarugenge District at Giti cy’Inyoni as part of the Kigali Centralized Sewerage System project.
The plant is projected to cost $63 million (over 100 billion Rwandan Francs) and will be completed within two years.
It will consist of 92 kilometers of underground pipelines across the Kigali districts of Nyarugenge, Gitega, and Muhima.
Rather than allowing people to dispose of wastewater into open pits, the wastewater will be directed into large pipes that will carry it to the plant for treatment.
The plant will have the capacity to treat 12,000 cubic meters of wastewater per day. Initially, the system will handle wastewater from over 208,000 households.
Experts have highlighted that wastewater pits can cause problems by weakening the ground, making buildings prone to collapse, especially in hilly areas.
WASAC Group CEO, Prof. Omar Munyaneza, explained that the project’s aim is to stop the excavation of pits, instead using the pipes to direct the wastewater to treatment plants.
“Instead of continuing to dig pits, we will transport the water and treat it before returning it to rivers or wetlands, rather than letting it flow where it can endanger lives, especially in hilly areas,” he said.
Prof. Munyaneza added that the treatment plant at Giti cy’Inyoni will begin construction next month after a thorough study was carried out to ensure the project’s success.
“This is a long-awaited project for many Rwandans. We took the time to carefully study it to ensure its quality and proper implementation because this is the largest project related to sanitation that the country is about to start.”
He further stated, “In the coming month, we will begin construction at Giti cy’Inyoni, and in the following months, we will begin digging the trenches for the pipes.”
Prof. Munyaneza also mentioned that they will begin discussions with residents living in business areas to ensure no major disruptions occur when large pipes are installed.
“We are working with several agencies to ensure the project doesn’t interfere with other developments. As you know, there are underground power lines, communication cables, and other utilities, which we will carefully consider. We have also collaborated with RTDA to ensure there is no damage to roads,” he said.
The CEO explained that the initial focus will be on the Commercial Quarter and other areas to direct wastewater through the pipes for treatment at Giti cy’Inyoni.
“We will collect wastewater from households in places such as Onatracom, Biryogo, Kiyovu, Cercle Sportif, Kanogo, and RSSB. All the wastewater from these areas will be collected and directed to the treatment plant along with the water from Nyabugogo and Cyahafi,” he added.
Prof. Munyaneza further mentioned that, apart from the Giti cy’Inyoni project, another treatment plant will be built in Kicukiro, while another will be placed in Murindi to cater to wastewater treatment in those areas as well.
WASAC Group also announced that a treatment plant will be established in Gasabo, with its location in the Karuruma wetlands.
“While these two last projects are not yet underway, their studies have been completed, and we are still looking for the necessary funding to start them. The Gasabo plant will be built in Karuruma Wetland so that we can ensure all of Kigali’s wastewater is properly managed,” he explained.
Prof. Munyaneza emphasized that these wastewater treatment plants will help improve sanitation in Kigali, where many areas have suffered from foul smells due to untreated wastewater being channeled into open spaces without proper treatment.
He also mentioned that in areas with steep terrain, such as Jali, it will be challenging to install pipes, but another plant will be built in Masaka to collect wastewater from residents living in such areas.
He noted that the delay in building the Giti cy’Inyoni plant was due to changes in the Kigali Master Plan, which transitioned from the 2013 version to the 2020 version.
He also mentioned that the expansion of the Kigali-Muhanga road was coordinated with this project to avoid any conflicts between the two developments.
Speaking at the event held on June 20, 2025 in Huye District, Xavier Shema Mugisha, Executive Director of Commercial Business at BPR Bank Rwanda Plc, explained that the annual initiative is intended to celebrate accomplishments with stakeholders while also seeking feedback for improvements and listening to client needs.
“In previous years, you offered valuable suggestions which we implemented, but that does not mean our work is complete. The journey continues, and we must keep improving our services for your benefit,” he remarked.
Patience Mutesi, CEO of BPR Bank Rwanda Plc, highlighted the importance of 2025 as the bank marks its 50th anniversary.
“This year, we are celebrating 50 years of a bank valued at over 1,000 billion Rwandan Francs. It has been a long journey with many challenges, but we’ve overcome them. Today, the bank stands as one of the leading institutions in East Africa. You made the right choice by trusting us. Our services now extend beyond Rwanda to the entire East African Community,” she said.
Mutesi also announced that, in 2025, shareholders began receiving dividends on their shares, a testament to the bank’s profitability and sustainable growth.
“We welcome your ideas to guide us through the next 50 years so we can continue to grow even faster,” she added.
Laurent Gatera from Huye District, a client of BPR since 1980, reflected on how the bank was once the only institution reaching people across the country and urged its leadership to continue meeting customers’ needs.
This sentiment was echoed by François Nyamaswa from Gisagara District, a client since 1990, who praised the bank’s progress and encouraged others to remain loyal to BPR Bank Rwanda Plc, noting its clear path toward a brighter future.
Huye District Mayor Sebutege Ange commended BPR Bank Rwanda Plc for engaging with citizens in a way that fosters friendship and trust, emphasizing the alignment with the national vision of citizen-centered service delivery.
He further urged BPR Bank to continue expanding its outreach to communities, providing information on financial services to promote saving habits and responsible borrowing.
Around 100 protesters rallied on Times Square, holding signs reading “Stop The War On Iran,” “Hands Off Iran” and others.
A group of people also held similar protests outside the White House, according to videos circulated on social media.
The emergency protests were planned in over 15 cities across the country, according to the website of the ANSWER Coalition, one of the organizers of the protests.
“(U.S. President Donald) Trump’s unprovoked bombing of Iranian nuclear facilities is an outright war crime. It violates the UN Charter, international law and the U.S. Constitution. It threatens to set into motion a regional or even global war with massive casualties, nuclear radiation and catastrophic consequences,” said a post on the website.
“We demand an immediate end to U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran and its sovereignty,” said the ANSWER Coalition.
The people of the United States want more funding for health care, education and infrastructure, while Trump and his war hawks are launching a new war that endangers the world, sheds the blood of Iranians and eventually Americans, and serves only the interests of the military-industrial complex, said the coalition.
“President Trump took his faithful decision without Congressional approval, even though it will trigger serious reprisals from Iran and put American soldiers directly in the line of fire. It was done not in response to any imminent threat,” said Etan Mabourakh, the organizing manager with the National Iranian American Council.
“We urge restraint. We urge diplomacy. Diplomacy is the only way to solve problems. Bombs have never brought liberation,” said Mabourakh at Times Square.
The United States is expected to see more similar protests in the coming days, including a national march in Washington D.C. on June 28, according to the website.
![Protesters rally outside the White House to denounce US air strikes on Iran's nuclear facilities, in Washington, DC, the United States, on June 22, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]](https://en.igihe.com/IMG/png/6859021ca310a04a967adb01.png)