IUCN and Rwanda Ministry of Agriculture discuss Fruits Production through Agroforestry Initiatives
Rwanda’s Minister of Agriculture and Animal Resources, Dr Ildephonse Musafiri, has, on Wednesday, June 5, 2024, received a courtesy visit from Ms. Kaori Yasuda, the IUCN Rwanda Country Representative.
According to the Ministry of Agriculture, their meeting focused on strategies to increase fruits production through Agroforestry projects in Rwanda.
Since its intervention in Rwanda, IUCN has continued to prioritize the use of agroforestry in all its programmes and initiatives to enhance the livelihoods of the people, improve soil immunity, and increase fertility while at the same time contributing to the socio-economic gains among small-holder farmers.
Projects like Sebeya have demonstrated the benefits of agroforestry, with the community expressing appreciation for the fruit trees provided.
The Sebeya Project was implemented by the Rwanda Water Resources Board (RWB), International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), Netherlands Development Organization (SNV) and Rwanda Rural rehabilitation initiative (RWARRI) and four administrative districts (Rubavu, Nyabihu, Rutsiro and Ngororero)
Other projects such as AREECA, TREPA, COMBIO, and DESIRA have also highlighted the importance of agroforestry in enhancing agricultural productivity.
In the years 2020/2021, Rwanda earned $28,793,267 from the sale of flowers, fruits, and vegetables. This figure increased to $42,862,494 in 2021/2022 and further rose to $58,169,911 million in 2022/2023.
Vegetables and fruits have gained popularity in the international market due to their nutritional and immune-boosting properties.
During the recent National Agroforestry Conference, Ms. Kaori Yasuda emphasized that IUCN’s work has shown that Agroforestry-based restoration of degraded agricultural land is a nature-based solution that can enhance farmers’ resilience to climate change.
From her perspectives, “Collaboration between scientists and policymakers is essential to effectively implement research-backed Agroforestry options for sustainable agriculture and food systems transformation in Rwanda.”
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