Rwandan farmers engaged in food and export-oriented agriculture will benefit from a 50 per cent subsidy on irrigation equipment, one of the means the government has devised to enhance the production of fresh produce (fruits, vegetables, flowers) for the local and export market.

Amb Claver Gatete, the Minister for Finance and Economic Planning, says the initiative will help reduce the country’s expenditure on food imports, especially rice, and expand the exports base.

“We are confident this scheme will boost the sector’s productivity and, eventually, increase our exports, especially from the horticulture sub-sector,” the minister said.

He says that both small and large-scale farmers, particularly those engaged in production of export-oriented crops, will benefit from the subsidy.

The minister also revealed that besides the subsidy for irrigation equipment, about 32 million euros has been set aside to fund the agriculture sector.

The initiative would also help create more off-farm jobs in line with the second Economic Development and Poverty Reduction Strategy (EDPRS II). Under this program the government wants to transform subsistence farming into market-oriented agriculture to achieve sustainable economic growth. Special focus has been put on the production of flowers, vegetables and fruits to help diversify the country’s exports.

The development should also be seen as encouraging sustainable agricultural production, and reduce the impact of climate change that is taking a toll on crop output, making it imperative for farmers to embrace irrigation.

According to Innocent Musyabimana, the Ministry of Agriculture permanent secretary, crop productivity in some parts of country like the Eastern Province has been declining in recent years due to inadequate rainfall.

“We want to develop about 500 irrigation schemes, especially in those areas that experience prolonged droughts, like Bugesera and Kayonza.”

Embracing modern agriculture practices, including crop irrigation and application of fertilisers are critical to foster sustainable production, adds Musyabimana. To boost the capacity of the sector, the ministry is collaborating with the government of Israel to train its field officers on new irrigation technologies.

According to Gross Domestic Product (GDP) figures for the first quarter of 2014, the agricultural sector grew by 5 per cent and contributed 32 per cent to the overall economic growth of Rwanda.