Kigali, 6^th December, 2019 - Prime Minister Dr Edouard Ngirente launched the Agricultural Policy Analysis and Capacity Development Program that aims at leveraging evidence and policy analysis to accelerate agricultural transformation in Rwanda.

Speaking at this event that took place in Kigali at Lemigo Hotel, Prime Minister Ngirente said that the launch of that program is another indicator of the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI)’s commitment towards ending hunger and malnutrition.

He also noted that under the Compact2025, an initiative for ending hunger and under-nutrition by 2025, Rwanda, as one of the focal countries of this initiative, in collaboration with IFPRI, worked together with stakeholders to set priorities and identify action gaps.

“Successful implementation of this Rwandan Program will be very instrumental for our country in achieving the SDG number 2. As you know, this goal seeks solutions to end hunger, achieve food security, improve nutrition, and promote sustainable agriculture,” Prime Minister Ngirente said.

“This program will also complement our efforts in accelerating progress in ending hunger and malnutrition. Our aim is to ensure that all Rwandans achieve their full potential as healthy and productive members of our society.” Dr Ngirente added.

The Premier noted that in the National Transformation Strategy NST1 2017-2024, the Agriculture sector is projected to grow at an average rate of 5.7% per year. Adding that last year of 2018, it increased by 6 percent, contributing 1.6 percent points to the overall GDP growth rate.

He pointed out that the agriculture sector is therefore an important driver in Rwanda’s transformation from a low-income to a knowledge-based and middle-income economy.

The Prime Minister reminded that in order to accelerate the implementation of the agricultural agenda set forth in NST1 (2017-2024), in 2018, the Government of Rwanda adopted the fourth Strategic Plan for Agricultural Transformation (PSTA 4) aiming at transforming Rwanda’s agriculture from a subsistence sector to a knowledge-based value creating sector.

The launch was also attended by Dr Shenggen Fan, Director General of International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), as well as other development partners and diplomats.