OFFICIAL LAUNCH OF THE PRIVATE SECTOR’S STRATEGIC ROADMAP 2030

Rwanda launches seven-year roadmap to develop the country’s seed industry.

The National Seed Association of Rwanda (NSAR) in partnership with the country’s Private Sector Federation (PSF), the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources (MINAGRI), the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MINICOM), One Acre Fund, Bank of Kigali (BK), and other key stakeholders in agriculture sector on Wednesday, October 25, 2023 launched a seven-year plan to develop the country’s seed industry.

Dubbed Rwanda’s Strategic Roadmap for Seed Industry 2030, the plan lays out strategies to develop the country’s seed sector by increasing seed production, improving seed quality, strengthening food security, and nurturing international seed trade and socio-economic growth within Rwanda’s agricultural sector.

At the launch of the roadmap in Kigali, NSAR’s Chairperson, Innocent Namuhoranye, described the official launch of the roadmap as a critical step because it helps kick-start implementation of the plans laid out in the roadmap. “A vibrant open seed industry delivering high yielding, good quality seed to the Rwandan farmer and its export markets will be the key measurement of success,” he said. He added that increased self-regulation of the country’s seed industry will indicate major success to allow government and private sector to work closely together. “Several building blocks are required to build increased level of self-regulation. Today, we present the structure of developing such a system in the next 7 years,” he said.

Among other participants, the event to launch Rwanda’s Strategic Roadmap for Seed Industry 2030 attracted the attendance of government officials, development partners, representatives of seed companies, as well as other key stakeholders who contribute and play a considerable role in the seed industry at the national, regional, and global levels.

The Director General for Agriculture Modernization at Rwanda’s Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources, Dr. Patrick Karangwa, pledged the government’s support in implementation of the roadmap. “We are looking forward as government to work with the private sector to create this modern and improved business environment to deliver high-quality seed to our farmers, counter the risks of counterfeit, low quality and fake seed in the market and thereby bring an improved livelihood to our farmers,” he said at the launch of the roadmap.

Karangwa advised seed companies and seed multipliers in the country to put more efforts into research and innovation in seed improvement over the next seven years while also self-regulating to stamp out poor quality seeds.

The roadmap calls for the creation of a National Seed Certification Agency to set standards, monitor seed quality, and enforce compliance in order to increase farmers’ confidence while also serving as an incentive for investors in seed production.

It also seeks to address the challenges in seed production by upgrading and expanding seed processing facilities, storage warehouses, and distribution networks as well as ensuring sufficient testing of new varieties is done to prepare farmers for changes brought about by climate change.