The fifth Rwanda Agriculture Transformation Strategy (PSTA-5) document is under final vetting by stakeholders before its submission for publication. The PSTA-5 adopts a food systems approach by including a more comprehensive methodology to agriculture development and incorporates several key indicators impacting the economy, including levels of climate resiliency and access to nutritious foods as integral components of the agricultural transformation. The document emphasizes inclusive markets, post-harvest management and strengthening food systems enablers for effective and efficient delivery such as agriculture finance, insurance, research, digital services, and the institutions that undertake these activities.
The Rwanda Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources (MINAGRI) has been consulting with stakeholders, including IFPRI, at various stages of the strategy development to harness and leverage innovation and knowledge exchange. It is within this framework that this workshop was organized, bringing together various participants including key stakeholders from government, UN, NGOs, research institutions and academia.
The workshop had three main objectives:
- Share updates on the development of the PSTA-5 implementation framework.
- Present the Global Food Systems Dashboard (foodsystemsdashboard.org), Global Diet Quality Project’s results for Rwanda and provide training on its diagnosing and decision functions.
- Share IFPRI’s recent research findings regarding smallholder commercial farming in Rwanda. The research covered farm typologies, crop commercialization patterns, and overall economic viability of smallholder farmers.
Dr Chantal Ingabire, Director General of Planning in MINAGRI, opened the workshop by thanking all participants. She emphasized the importance of bringing together different partners with varying expertise, knowledge, and experience towards transforming Rwandan agriculture with the ultimate goal of Tugire ibiryo mu Rwanda (ie.,let us have food in Rwanda). Dr. Chantal acknowledged the contribution of the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) and the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) in collaboration with MINAGRI for organizing the workshop.
The MINAGRI team provided a PSTA-5 update to the participants on the progress of the document and received inputs and comments for further improvement. The contribution of IFPRI to the latest draft was acknowledged by citing findings from two recent papers. The first paper titled “Identifying Farm Typologies in Rwandan Agriculture: A Framework for Improving Targeted Interventions,” and the second “Crop Commercialization in Rwanda: Current Market Participation and Drivers” were presented later in the workshop. These findings served as a cornerstone for understanding the complexities of smallholder commercial farming in Rwanda, enriching the discourse and guiding policy formulation. Overall, IFPRI is committed to providing evidence-based policy solutions.
Crop Commercialization in Rwanda
in Rwandan Agriculture
Discussions emphasized the need for comprehensive monitoring mechanisms that encompass various aspects of food systems including production, distribution, consumption/diet, and waste management. The team from GAIN presented the Global Food Systems Dashboard and Global Diet Quality Project’s results from Rwanda and provide training on its diagnose and decide functions. GAIN has been working with MINAGRI to adapt these global tools to the Rwandan context. So far, MINAGRI has selected 29 indicators for food systems monitoring in the PSTA-5 document.
In her closing remarks, Dr. Chantal Ingabire reiterated that collaboration among stakeholders, policymakers, researchers, private sector actors and farmers is paramount for PSTA-5. She commended the valuable contributions from participants, providing further clarifications and noted the inputs for the final draft. As part of the last consultations for PSTA-5, MINAGRI recommended that IFPRI organize a more in-depth discussion with academic partners on the commercialization and farm typology data and research methodology and recommended that this meeting take place before the launch of the PSTA-5.
Research by presenters:
Synopsis: Crop commercialization in Rwanda: Current market participation and drivers
About the Authors:
Emerence Mukangabo is a Senior Research Analyst, IFPRI, Rwanda Strategy Support Program
Solange Zawadi is the Country Program Manager, IFPRI, Rwanda Strategy Support Program
James Warner is a Research Fellow and Program Leader for IFPRI, Rwanda Strategy Support Program
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