Congress key resolutions and the Way forward
The 2nd Rwanda National Seed Congress 2024 discussed about the required strategic interventions
to boost the seed systems and ensure that farmers have access to quality seeds at affordable price.
To achieve this, the following considerations are the prerequisites:
a. The seed value chain modernization requires different stakeholders to work together under
the principles of co-responsibility and solidarity to ensure sustainable seed production and
distribution to deliver on farmers‘ prosperity, which must be at the Centre of any action or
policy,57
b. The Congress stands as pivotal in providing a platform for stakeholders from the public &
private sector and development partners to unite and agree on the transformative actions for
the seed industry’s improved performance and sustainable development.
Therefore, the congress participants draw and recommended the following:
1. The Strengthening of Public Private Partnership (PPs) between government, private industry
and NGOs is key to the implementation of the Strategic Roadmap for the Rwanda Seed Industry
2030 in as far as it seeks to enhance the sustainable production and use of improved seed in
Rwanda. The roles and responsibilities of each stakeholder in the partnership must be clearly
defined to enhance their contributions.
2. Government should obtain ISTA accreditation for Rwanda‘s seed testing laboratories, OECD
certification for the National Designated Authority, as well as adopt UPOV, to establish an
improved regulatory environment, conducive for domestic and foreign investment in the
Rwanda Seed Industry.
3. The Government should strengthen human, infrastructure and institutional capacities of the
national seed testing and certification systems in preparation for both ISTA and OECD
accreditation.
4. The Government of Rwanda shall initiate the membership application to OECD.
5. The Government of Rwanda and Seed industry players shall enhance the labelling System and
independent Authentication system to fight against the fake seeds into seed distribution
channels.
6. The Government shall support the industry through capacitating NSAR to become a true selfregulatory body. Therefore, the private seed industry shall develop its internal systems to ensure
adherence to rules and regulations governing self-regulation.
7. Government and the private sector should promote advances in crop improvement including
biotechnology and establish the appropriate infrastructure and facilities to enable Rwandan
farmers benefit from novel innovations.
8. Seed companies shall partner with Government by investing technical and financial resources to
strengthen the promotion of farmer awareness on use of improved seeds.
9. Government and Financial
institutions should work to increase
agricultural lending by strengthening the
existing agriculture de-risking mechanisms
and customizing loans and financial
products to agricultural value chain actors‘
requirements. Financial institutions should
develop financial products tailored to seed
value chain actors especially for those
involved in seed production and marketing.
Photo 23: Mr. Innocent Namuhoranye, the Chairperson of NSAR58
The chairperson of NSAR concluded with a vote of thanks, expressing gratitude to the congress’
organizing committee for their efforts in making the event a success, to the partners who provided
financial support, and to the delegates from various countries for honoring NSAR’s invitation to
participate in the 2nd Rwanda National Seed Congress 2024. He wrapped up his remarks by
announcing that the 3rd Rwanda National Seed Congress will be held in Kigali on the 20th and 21st
of July, 2026.
4.2.Closing Remarks from the Ag. Chairperson of the Private Sector Federation of
Rwanda
The Acting Chairperson of the Private Sector Federation of Rwanda emphasized that the success of
the private seed sector serves as a testament and clear evidence of the efforts to enhance farmers’
resilience and drive the transformation of the agriculture sector, achieved through the collaborative
policies and strategic actions led by both government and private sector.