Rwanda seeks leadership to drive food system transformation

Rwanda is shifting its agricultural focus toward integrated food systems to improve farmer livelihoods and nutrition.

The country recently saw a record sale of a kilogram of coffee from K-Organics in Huye District, which fetched $452 at the Best of Rwanda auction. This success resulted from a systemic overhaul involving export reforms, private investment, and quality standards managed by the National Agricultural Export Development Board.

The National Agricultural Export Development Board says it allocates 75 per cent of Best of Rwanda auction revenues to farmers who supply cherries to processors. While the coffee sector has seen success, experts like Dr Agnes Kalibata urge that these premium market benefits reach more producers. Previous attempts to introduce greenhouse tomatoes and peppers nearly failed because the projects focused on production technology without considering the surrounding market systems, distribution, and commercial interests.

The government launched the Fifth Strategic Plan for Agriculture Transformation in December 2024 to place resilient and sustainable food systems at the center of development. This plan works alongside the Rwanda Food Innovation Ecosystem Strategy 2026 to 2035, which uses the Rwanda Food Innovation Partnership to connect researchers, investors, and businesses. These frameworks aim to turn technical ideas into commercial reality by coordinating across different sectors, such as health, trade, and finance.

To achieve these goals, the country intends to invest in food systems leadership. This approach requires professionals to coordinate across institutional boundaries to solve complex issues like malnutrition. The strategy involves measuring success through farmer profitability and nutrition rather than just crop yields. The government plans to partner with organizations like the African Food Fellowship and AGRA to train leaders who can manage these interconnected agricultural challenges.