Hailemariam & Roman Foundation (HRF) held discussion with the Rwanda’s Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources (MINAGRI) on ways to enhance partnership to advance agricultural transformation in Rwanda.
Held on December 16, 2024 in Kigali, Rwanda, the discussion highlighted a range of initiatives to work together on, including knowledge sharing to promote climate-smart agriculture solutions for sustainable food production.
H.E. Hailemariam Dessalegn, the former Prime Minister of Ethiopia and Board Chair of AGRA, appreciated the commitment of the Government of Rwanda to advance the agriculture sector as a means of reducing poverty.
Acknowledging the presence of HRF’s delegation, Hon. Dr. Mark Cyubahiro Bagabe, the Minister of Agriculture and Animal Resources of Rwanda, stressed the importance of enhancing the partnership to transform Rwanda’s agriculture sector.
H.E. Roman Tesfaye, the former First Lady of Ethiopia and CEO of HRF, reaffirmed the Foundation’s commitment to continue collaborating with the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources to advance the country’s agriculture sector.
Agriculture is among the key pillars of the Rwandan economy, contributing about third of the GDP. The sector employs 62.2% of the labor force, contributes 63% of foreign exchange earnings and meets about 90% of the country’s food needs.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources has a vision, as defined by the country’s National Agricultural Policy (2018), for Rwanda to become “a nation that enjoys food security, nutritional health and sustainable agricultural growth from a productive, green and market-led agricultural sector.”
Considering the country’s challenges of the agriculture sector, the Ministry promotes technologies and innovations that allow achieving high levels of productivity on small land and promotion of high value crops.
With the financial support of Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Hailemariam & Roman Foundation is advocating for agricultural transformation in African countries, including Rwanda, Ghana, Tanzania and Zambia.
