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By Providence Iradukunda
The Minister of Agriculture and Animal Resources, Dr. Mark Cyubahiro Bagabe, has encouraged farmers to adopt resilient technologies that can help them secure their future through developing a climate smart agriculture sector.
He delivered the message on Friday June 20th,2025 while officially opening the 18th Rwanda Agriculture Show at Mulindi showground in Gasabo District, Kigali City.
This event themed “leveraging innovation and investment for building resilient and sustainable agri-food systems” takes place from 18/06/2025 to 27/06/2025.
It focuses on showcasing various agricultural technologies meant to fight effects of climate change and increasing productivity. This year’s show attracted more than 500 exhibitors.
Minister Bagabe highlighted that agriculture remains the backbone of our economy, as it contributes 25% to our GDP and supports 70% of agro-processing industries.
“Under Rwanda’s national strategy (NST2), we aim to increase key crop yields by 50% and achieve over 6% annual growth in the agriculture sector,” he said.
He emphasized the government’s ambitious investment targets for the agriculture sector, stating that to reach the goal, priority will be on increasing investments.
“The private sector investment is targeted to grow from $2.2 billion in 2024 to $4.6 billion by 2029. Export revenues from agriculture are expected to rise from $875 million to $1.9 billion. Additionally, we plan to increase agriculture-related loans from 6% to at least 10% of total lending,” he noted.
Through collaboration with 18 financial institutions, the government has introduced low‑interest loans for farmers, with over FRW 31 billion in credit approved and FRW 17 billion already disbursed.
This year’s event showcases a wide range of innovative technologies and best practices that can help farmers overcome climate change, reduce post‑harvest losses, and boost productivity. It is also a space for youth and entrepreneurs to explore opportunities within the agriculture sector.
Looking ahead to Vision 2050, Rwanda aims to transform its agriculture sector into a profitable, market‑led, and technology‑driven sector. The Government, through the Ministry of Agriculture and its partners, reaffirms its commitment to supporting farmers with improved seeds, fertilizers, irrigation, mechanization, and contract farming models.
As the 18th National Agricultural Show unfolds, farmers are encouraged to embrace the innovations on display, apply the lessons learned, and join the national drive for a resilient, productive, and sustainable agriculture sector for the benefit of generations to come.
Rwanda Agriculture Show is an annual event organized by the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources to exhibit innovations and best practices in the agriculture sector in Rwanda. It is an ideal platform that brings exhibitors and visitors together for the exchange of information, experiences, and investment opportunities.
About 4000 visitors show up at the exhibition every day to learn about latest technologies and innovations in Rwanda’s agriculture.
MINAGRI
