Government to inject Rwf11 billion into improving quality of agriculture produce

Elias Hakizimana Jun 20, 2019Jun 20, 2019 0 Comments

By Elias Hakizimana.

The Government of Rwanda will invest around Rwf 11 billion to boost agriculture sector through different initiatives aiming to improve the quality of produce during the next fiscal year.

This was revealed by the Minister for Agriculture and Animal Resources Dr. Geraldine Mukeshimana when officially opening the 14^th Rwanda Agri-show that takes place at Mulindi Exhibition ground in Gasabo District from June 18^th to 26^th, 2019.

“We are happy that the government will invest around Rwf11billion in different initiatives aiming to improve the quality of agriculture produce,” she said.

**Minister for Agriculture and Animal Resources Dr. Geraldine Mukeshimana with Anastase Shyaka, Minister of Local Government officially opening the 14^th Rwanda Agri-show**

She commended efforts injected in using Information Communication Technology (ICT) in Agriculture and Livestock transformation.

“We have seen that ICT is very important in development of agriculture and livestock farming and we have seen how it works in agriculture inputs and in insurance, all are the initiatives to improve agriculture activities,” Mukeshimana said.

**Some of technologies to help farmers improve productivity**

She has called agro-processors to do all the best in producing quality products to benefit from the recently signed African Continental Free Trade Area (ACFTA) by African Governments as an opportunity to join regional markets and strive to increase exports.

**Minister for Agriculture and Animal Resources Dr. Geraldine Mukeshimana addressing participants to the 14th Rwanda Agrishow on June 19, 2019**

“The government in its 7-year programmes puts efforts in reducing import-exports-gap by promoting locally made products. This goes with increasing quality produce for export to rise the national economy. Through the ministry, there are many different initiatives being implemented with the goal to improve the quantity and quality of sector productivity, enabling local produce to compete with imported one,” She noted

The Agri-show attracted different partners in agriculture value chain including farmers, agro-dealers, irrigation tool suppliers, machinery suppliers, agro-processors, banks and insurance companies as well as researchers in agriculture and livestock farming.

Different enterprises including youth engaged in agribusiness forum are participating to the 14^th agrishow with attractive products.

Regis Umugiraneza, the chairman of CARL Group Limited that produces breads, cakes and biscuits from orange sweet potatoes said that the present agrishow is an opportunity to prove that everything is possible to transform agriculture value chain and avoid post-harvest losses when youths use skills and innovation.

**Children enjoying the bread produced by CARL Group Limited with milk of Zirakamwa Meza Dairy during the 14th Rwanda agri-show**

“Our aim is to produce products by using our local crop: orange fleshed sweet potato, rich in Vitamin A and so many minerals that help a cell growth of the children,” Umugiraneza said.

HEworks Rwanda Silk Limited is also among the exhibitors. The company has expanded activities in Silk production with the aim to hit about $70 million and surpass revenues from coffee or tea exports after five years of investing in sericulture sector, and will contribute to the rise of Rwanda’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

HEworks Rwanda Silk Ltd Managing Director, Seok-Weon Yoon told The Inspirer that they need to produce more to start exporting after completing a big factory in Bugesera Industrial park last year.

Almost 4,000 farmers countrywide are growing mulberry plantation that feeds silkworms to give out silkworms’ eggs for silk cocoons.

**flat cocoons being exhibited at the 14th Rwanda Agrishow**

A new plant was also launched at the Kigali Special Economic Zone to spur Rwanda’s silk sector where they buy cocoons from farmers and make products to be exported.

Dubbed ‘Rwanda Silk Processing Factory’. It is a result of partnership between between HEworks Rwanda Silk Ltd – a subsidiary of Korean firm HEworks, and the National Agriculture Exports Development Board (NAEB).

**Cocoons in different forms and sizes**

Keewook Sohn, trainer of trainers of field technicians in production of silkworm eggs in said that they need to produce more eggs and increase farmer’s income. “it is my responsibility to supply good quality of silkworm eggs to farmers to guarantee them high production,” Sohn said.

The company expects to make export of $350 million and create 6,000 jobs until 2030.

Minister Geraldine Mukeshimana thanked various entrepreneurs who ventured into agro-processing sector and pledged that the government will continue support them mostly in reducing available problems.