Govt. unveils 50% subsidy to promote irrigation #rwanda

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 food production.
Amb Claver Gatete, the Minister for Finance and Economic
Planning, said the initiative will help reduce the country's
expenditure on food imports, especially rice, and expand the
exports base.
"We spend millions of francs on rice and other foodstuff
imports. We are confident this scheme will boost the
sector's productivity and, eventually, increase our exports,
especially from the horticulture sub-sector," Gatete said in
an interview with The New Times.
He said 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 that irrigation
equipment subsidy, about Rwf30 billion has been set aside
to fund the agriculture sector.
Gatete noted the initiative would also help create more off-
farm jobs in line with the second Economic Development
and Poverty Reduction Strategy (EDPRS II).
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, to ensure food
security," he said.
Musyabimana added that embracing modern agriculture
practices, including crop irrigation and application of
fertilisers are critical to foster sustainable production.
To boost the capacity of the sector, the ministry is
collaborating with government of Israel to train its field
officers on new irrigation technologies.
Under EDPRS II, the government wants to transform
subsistence farming into market-oriented agriculture to
achieve sustainable economic growth. Special focus has
also been put on production of flowers, vegetables and
fruits to help diversify the country's exports.
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.