By Oliva Tuyishime
The Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources, in collaboration with the Rwanda Organization of Professionals in Agriculture Advisory Services, convened a national dialogue aimed at exploring ways to increase agricultural productivity through improved extension services.
The meeting, held on March 26, 2026, in Kigali, brought together stakeholders from government institutions, the private sector, non-governmental organizations, agricultural researchers, and farmers.
During the meeting, the Chairperson of ROPAAS, Innocent Ntabana, explained that the organization is introducing a new approach to agricultural extension that goes beyond simply providing advice.
He emphasized that their model combines knowledge with practical support services such as access to fertilizers, improved seeds, and other essential inputs. He noted that farmers will also be connected to reliable markets to encourage them to produce for sale with confidence.
“We are not just offering words. What is new is that we provide knowledge alongside real services. If we operate in a given area, we ensure that inputs like fertilizers and seeds are accessible to farmers nearby so they can increase production. Beyond that, we prepare them and connect them to buyers so that farming for the market becomes viable and motivating,” Ntabana said.
He further noted that this approach aligns with government policies that call for stronger private sector involvement in agricultural extension. He highlighted the introduction of Food Basket Sites—areas designed to concentrate agricultural production—where private agronomists will play a key role in supporting farmers with all the services they need to improve yields.
The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources, Dr. Olivier Kamana, welcomed the initiative, stating that the establishment of ROPAAS will help bring services closer to farmers. He explained that private agronomists are better positioned to provide timely and accessible support compared to relying solely on government systems.
“We now have an association of agronomists, ROPAAS, which will help ensure that farmers receive the services they need from private professionals. This will improve productivity because these services will be more accessible and delivered on time,” he said.
Dr. Kamana added that the Food Basket Site model is still in its early stages but shows strong potential. He noted that after a few agricultural seasons, the government expects to clearly assess its impact and direction. He also encouraged farmers to actively participate in the program by using improved seeds, applying fertilizers correctly and on time, and making effective use of irrigation where possible.
The dialogue also produced key recommendations to accelerate the transformation of Extension and Advisory Services (EAS). These include strengthening collaboration between public and private actors, formally recognizing private extension services, and establishing clear legal and institutional frameworks with strong quality assurance mechanisms. Stakeholders also called for the creation of a Ministerial Order to guide private sector participation in Food Basket Site implementation and the establishment of a secretariat to support the rollout of the Customized Agricultural Extension System (CAES).
Additional recommendations focused on promoting market-oriented advisory models, investing in capacity building, strengthening multi-stakeholder engagement, and increasing the participation of women and youth. The importance of digitalizing extension services and developing a clear national roadmap for implementation and accountability was also emphasized.
Rwanda aims to increase crop productivity by 50 percent and expand access to extension services to 69 percent of farmers by 2029
