Members of the steering committee in a group photo after the meeting. ©FAO/Kim Kamasa

DeSIRA project steering committee members met at the Lemigo Hotel in Kigali to review project progress and plan for the next quarter. The meeting brought together representatives of all project implementing partners at the national and district levels, including the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources, University of Rwanda, and Ecole Supérieure D’agro-Développement International (ISTOM). DeSIRA is a four-year project funded by the European Union. Its objective is to reduce poverty and ensure food and nutrition security through improved capacities for climate-smart innovations among actors engaged in local innovation partnerships.

In her opening remarks, Dr. Chantal Ingabire, the Director-General of Planning – MINAGRI and the Chairperson of the DeSIRA project steering committee, appreciated the progress made and the selected value chains. She also congratulated the European Union for their generous support and the FAO for their technical assistance.

 “I am happy that the DeSIRA project works to address issues such low livestock, low dissemination of improved varieties, low farmer’s access to inputs, poor agriculture practices, uncoordinated market linkages, and limited diversification of livestock and crop products,” Dr. Ingabire added.

“I am also grateful to those involved in the planning phase of this project for choosing the value chains, among others maize, rice, Irish potato, cassava, small livestock, and dairy, which are among the priority crops promoted by the Ministry for Agriculture and Animal Resources. These crops do not only contribute to the uplifting of the livelihoods of Rwandan citizens but also play a vital role in adding value to nutritious foods.’’ Dr. Ingabire noted.  

In his welcoming remarks, Mr. Sosa Orlando, Officer in Charge of the FAO Representation in Rwanda, thanked participants for making time to attend the meeting, noting that it is an essential step toward successfully implementing the project.

He underscored that Rwanda’s remarkable economic trajectory depends heavily on agriculture for its income, employment opportunities, and improved people’s livelihoods, especially rural inhabitants, but the sector, like many others, continues to face insurmountable challenges that need critical reflection.

“Unfortunately, the agrifood system in Rwanda faces the same challenges as other countries to increase the profitability of farming. We need to have the capacity to withstand shocks, have sustainable strategies in place, and create an enabling environment for farmers to do farming as a lucrative business. This way, we can improve incomes and build resilience to climate and economic shocks. However, given its smart and attainable roadmap, I am optimistic that the DeSIRA project will contribute solutions to these challenges”. Mr. Sosa noted

Nathalie Mujawimana, a director of agriculture of the Rutsiro District where DeSIRA supports small livestock, indicated that their farmers face challenges that limit them from farming as a profitable business.

“In Rutsiro, small livestock farmers have challenges including lack of slaughterhouses which would otherwise add value to the meat, expensive feeds, limited medication, and most of them have to travel either to Rubavu or Karongi to sell their products at a reasonable price. We are working with the DeSIRA project partners to address these challenges,” Mujawimana says

The meeting reviewed the progress of all key project outputs and addressed the challenges related to project implementation. Among the key outcomes of the meeting, members resolved to schedule steering committee meetings every quarter as opposed to the initial plan of having them twice a year. Participants also committed to increasing women’s participation through project implementation phases.

DeSIRA project is aligned to national development priorities as outlined in the National Strategy for Transformation – NST1 (priority areas 3 and 6) and the Agriculture Sector Transformation Strategy.

The project concept was also developed based on FAO Strategic Framework 2022-31 which seeks to support the 2030 Agenda through the transformation to more efficient, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable agri-food systems for better production, better nutrition, a better environment, and a better life, leaving no one behind.