{The Ministry of Agriculture (MINAGRI) has clarified that there is no hunger in the country even though some sectors from the Eastern Province were affected by drought.}
The Minister of Agriculture and Animal Resources, Mukeshimana Geraldine, revealed this yesterday during a press briefing on the harvest of the previous agricultural season 2016 A.
“We can’t say the last season was good or bad,” she said.
Climate change brought challenges in determining performance in the previous agricultural season as it resulted in droughts in some districts like Kayonza, Nyagatare and Kirehe which started receiving food donations in 2016.
Residents of affected sectors have so far received 827 tons of food aid, an activity that is ongoing.
“Having some sectors affected by drought doesn’t mean that the country is starving,” she said.
The Minister of State in MINAGRI, Tony Nsanganira, said that Rwanda has stores of food reserves capable of feeding Rwandans for some time.
“There will be drop in African harvests because of climate change problems. It is necessary that farmers, traders and governments become careful so people won’t rob the harvest,” he said.
The harvest of 2016 A exceeds the harvest of 2015 A as noted by Ndabamenye Telesphore, the deputy director of Rwanda Agriculture Board.
In 2015 maize was grown on 250 hectares and produced 900,000 tons while the season 2016 A witnessed an increase of 10,000 tons with 30 hectares added to the area of farming.
Beans were planted on 420,000 hectares and produced 550,000 tons. Irish potatoes were planted on 740,00 hectares and produced 1,120,000 kgs.
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