On 19 November 2024, the Plenary Sitting of the Chamber of Deputies called for immediate action to address challenges in Rwanda's agricultural sector, emphasizing the necessity for increased productivity and sustainable market solutions.
The Plenary sitting recommended that the Ministry of Agricultural and Animal Resources expedite the implementation of strategies aimed at enhancing agricultural and livestock production while incorporating climate change adaptation measures.
The Ministry of Commerce and Trade was tasked with developing a sustainable plan to resolve the issues faced by rice farmers, including the high cost of locally produced rice compared to imports and the market access challenges for entrepreneurs purchasing local rice harvests.
The Ministry of Local Government has been requested to address the unresolved issues identified during the Deputies' district visits in May and June 2023. Additionally, the Ministry is encouraged to strengthen campaigns that promote rainwater harvesting, improve water management through and plant vegetation to control erosion in critical areas.
Furthermore, the Chamber of Deputies committed to monitoring agricultural challenges and the measures taken to resolve them, overseeing the implementation of crop and livestock insurance schemes and following up on unpaid arrears related to agricultural input subsidies.
The Plenary Sitting of the Chamber of Deputies passed recommendations aimed at addressing critical issues in the agriculture sector. This followed the adoption of a report detailing the findings from their nationwide visits across 87 sectors, conducted from October 24 to 26, 2024. The visits were designed to assess the progress of the 2025A agricultural season and to engage with citizens through community work known as Umuganda.
The Plenary Sitting of the Chamber of Deputies acknowledged that the 2025A agricultural season was well-prepared, with achievements including full utilization of allocated land for planting, successful land preparation, consolidation, and planting, delivery of subsidized to farmers and establishment of tree nurseries in most areas.
