Download 3.3 Pyrethrum Production in Rwanda

AGRICULTURAL SYSTEM IN RWANDA
by:
Aimable Nsabimana
Dec. 23rd 2011
ABSTRACT
Over the past decade, Rwanda has become the symbol of progress in Africa. It has received
praise for numerous initiatives to deal with corruption and efforts to modernize its economy.
Agriculture is an unmovable cornerstone of Rwandan society. Eighty percent of the population
depends on the land work for their livelihoods. Farmers depend on a unique mixture of
geographical landscapes, topography and microclimates. This presents substantial challenges.
The land scarcity and the fact that Rwanda has one of the highest population densities in Africa,
culminate in farming being conducted by smallholders who own, on average, 0.5 hectares of
farmland. Furthermore, as the name “The Land of One Thousand Hills” suggests, soil erosion is
an impending problem with some cultivation occurring on slopes of up to 55%. These factors,
combined with the fact that the country is landlocked, with the nearest ports, Mombasa and DarEs-Salaam, being over 700 miles away, places constraints on Rwanda foreign development and
would seem insurmountable for an ordinary person. In order to overcome malnutrition and
sustain food security, the country has significantly promoted three main food crops countrywide.
These include the Maize, Beans and Potatoes. The Potatoes are essentially produced in northern
regions in volcano soil while the Maize and Beans are extensively developed in South and East
of the country where the production of them is relatively high. While agricultural export
production represents a small part of aggregate production, Rwanda has exploited the high
quality characteristics of its coffee, pyrethrum and tea sectors to increase incomes for small
holder farmers in these sectors. The country has planned 20 years middle and long term
development program (commonly called Rwanda 2020 vision) which is mainly focused on
Economic Development and Poverty Reduction Strategy. The agriculture sector is at the core of
this vision and will play a big role in its success.
Key words: Economics, Economic Development, food and cash crops
ii
LIST OF TABLES
Table 1: Potato Production in Rwanda (tonnes) ............................................................................. 9
iii
LIST OF FIGURES
Figure 1: Geographic map of Republic of Rwanda ........................................................................ 1
Figure 2: Farmers harvesting tea leaves in Kitabi Factory Area, 2010 ........................................ 13
Figure 3: Pyrethrum Farmers in Musanze District ....................................................................... 14
iv
ABBREVIATIONS
ISAR: Rwanda Institute for Research in Agriculture
DRC: Democratic Republic of Congo
GDP: Gross Domestic Product
MINAGRI: Ministry of Agricultural and Animal Resources
MINECOFIN: Ministry of Economic Planning and Finance
RADA: Rwanda Agricultural Development Authority
IITA: International Institute of Tropical Agriculture
RIU: Research Into Use
NGO: Non Government Organization
FAOSTAT: Food Agricultural Organization Statistics
USD: United State Dollar
OCIR-CAFÉ: Rwanda Institute for Coffee Research and Development
CWS: Coffee Washing Station
USAID: United States of America for International Development
UK: United Kingdom
Frws/Kg: Rwandan francs per Kilo
v
TABLE OF CONTENTS
ABSTRACT................................................................................................................................................... i
LIST OF TABLES ....................................................................................................................................... iii
LIST OF FIGURES ..................................................................................................................................... iv
ABBREVIATIONS ...................................................................................................................................... v
TABLE OF CONTENTS ............................................................................................................................. vi
CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................................. 1
1.1 A general overview on the Republic of Rwanda ................................................................................ 1
1.2 Systems in Rwandan agriculture ......................................................................................................... 2
1.3 Climate change.................................................................................................................................... 3
1.4 Technology and adaptability ............................................................................................................... 4
1.5 Crop production .................................................................................................................................. 5
CHAPTER 2 FOOD CROPPING RWANDA .............................................................................................. 6
2.1 Banana................................................................................................................................................. 6
2.2 Maize .................................................................................................................................................. 7
2.3 Potatoes ............................................................................................................................................... 8
2.4 Beans ................................................................................................................................................... 9
2.4.1 Overview and place of beans in the agricultural sector in Rwanda ............................................. 9
2.4.2 Bean production constraints in Rwanda..................................................................................... 10
CHAPTER 3 CASH CROPPING IN RWANDA ....................................................................................... 11
3.1 Coffee................................................................................................................................................ 11
3.2 Tea .................................................................................................................................................... 13
3.3 Pyrethrum Production in Rwanda ..................................................................................................... 14
CHAPTER 4 CONCLUSIONS .................................................................................................................. 15
REFERENCES ........................................................................................................................................... 16
vi
CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION
1.1 A general overview on the Republic of Rwanda
Rwanda is one of African countries, entirely landlocked, with four shared frontier countries; in
the North there is Uganda, West – Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC ), East- Tanzania and
South- Burundi. This can be observed through the figure given below.
Figure 1: Geographic map of the Republic of Rwanda
Source: Website Design by Internetwebsitedesign.com.au
Rwanda is located in Central Africa between latitudes 1°04’ and 2°51’ south and longitudes
28°45’ and 31°15’ east. Its surface area is 26.338 sq km, divided into water and lands. Land is
24,668 sq km and water: 1,670 sq km. The estimate of the population on January 19th 2010 was
10,746,311 people, that is an average population density of 408 people per sq km. Back on real
density or physiological density (People per area of arable land), 46% of the total area used for
human sustenance through cropping and livestock developments give a density of 887 people per
1
sq km. The country is predominantly agricultural with few options that would reduce the
pressure on land resources. Rwandan population is at high rates made by youth, less than 35
years at 60%. That is, their impact on development may be significant if their implication is
made and rendered effective. Rwanda is a poor rural country with about 85% of the population
engaged in (mainly subsistence) agriculture and some mineral and agro-processing. In 2008,
minerals overtook coffee and tea as Rwanda's primary foreign exchange earner.
The estimates of GDP in 2009 were $5.1 billion. The real GDP growth rate was 4%, per capita
income is $510, purchasing power parity in 2006 $1,600, average inflation rate in 2008 was
5.7%. Agriculture in 2009 has contributed with 36.4% of GDP and main crops are coffee, tea,
pyrethrum (insecticide made from chrysanthemums), bananas, beans, sorghum, potatoes, and
livestock. Industrial sector contributed with 14.2% of GDP and main products are cement,
agricultural products, beer production, soft drinks, soap, furniture, shoes, plastic goods, textiles,
cigarettes, pharmaceuticals while the services sector made 43.7%.
Trading status of the Rwandan economy in 2009 was estimated as exports $193 million in tea,
coffee, coltan, cassiterite, hides, iron ore, and tin. Major markets are China, Belgium, and
Germany. The imports were $963 million spent on foodstuffs, machinery and equipment, steel,
petroleum products, cement, and construction material from Kenya, Germany, Belgium, France,
Uganda, and Israel.
The climate of Rwanda is temperate with two rainy seasons (February to April, November to
January); mild in mountains with frost and snow are possible. The environment in Rwanda is
being destroyed through deforestation resulting from uncontrolled cutting of trees for fuel;
overgrazing; soil exhaustion; soil erosion and widespread poaching.
1.2 Systems in Rwandan agriculture
Rwanda has 4 main types of land: cultivated lands, marshlands, forests, and soils allowing water
resources. Cultivated lands represents 1,12 million hectares, around 46% of the country,
distributed between 870,000 ha of annual crops and 250,000 of permanent crops. But the
ministry of agriculture and animal resources assess that around 420,000 to 560,000 ha more
could be cultivated. Forest area represents around 8% of the country which are mainly located in
2
natural protected areas.
The climate is temperature tropical type with an average temperature of 19oC and annual rainfall
ranging between 900 and 1,600mm. The country experiences a short rainy season from
September to November and a long rainy season from February to May. The short dry season
runs from December to January and the long dry season from June to mid-September. Rwanda is
divided into three topographical zone: a Lowlands having less than 1,500 m of altitude and
which cover the whole part of the Eastern part of the country; a Midlands (1,500 to 1,900 m)
stretching on both side of the Congo-Nile Ridge; a Highlands (above 1,900 m) that cover the
highlands of the Congo-Nile Ridge.
The spatial pattern of the agriculture regions in Rwanda follow the physical environmental
factors which affect crop growth and due to the fact that Rwanda is characterized by dramatic
contrasts in temperature and rainfall as the elevation changes from the lowland savanna areas of
the East to the mountain chains of the West. That is, Rwandan agricultural economy depends on
the status of the occurring climatic conditions which results its vulnerability on any change.
1.3 Climate change
Climate describes changes in the variability or average state of the atmosphere over time scales
ranging from decades to millions of years. These changes can be caused by naturally processes
of the Earth, external forces (e.g. variations in sunlight intensity) or, more recently, human
activities.
Human induced climate change refers to global warming, which translates an average increase in
the Earth's temperature, which in turn causes changes in climate and had affected the eastern
Africa countries where Rwanda is located. Warmer Earth may lead to changes in rainfall
patterns, a rise in sea level, and a wide range of impacts on plants, wildlife, and humans.
Back to our country, Rwanda, with full reliance on agriculture and with high population pressure
preoccupation, the agriculture adaptability on the changing climate so as to fulfill our every day
food demands and the technological application is required accordingly to our: topography,
arable lands surface, water availability, financial means, human capital formation so as to apply
suitably and accordingly the required level of technology.
3
Climate change is expressed through a wide range of characteristics among which we can find:
water scarcity within areas which can result desertification of places; global warming and frost in
various areas, rainfall schedule changes which in turn impact on agriculture failures; calamities
and other disasters around the world which devastate human treasurers and making many deaths
in quick and short times, atmospheric temperature increase and complicated diseases in
association; fauna and flora species extinction in different corners of the globe.
The country is susceptible of knowing powerful degradation of environment caused by heavy
rainfall causing the erosion and the deforestation. Because of the reduction of biodiversity and
ecosystem, some species of animals, birds and vegetation had already disappeared. Not only
disappearance of some plant species but also complexities in resistance and yielding status of the
remaining ones.
1.4 Technology and adaptability
Climatic conditions are key determinants of Rwandan agricultural economy: progress and/or
shrinking of weather and humidity are directly linked to atmospheric status and environmental
viability. Rwandan farmer producers’ yield has been always affected by the conditions in the
climate context. The mechanism to handle the preoccupation is the green revolution. There is
need for remedies about how to mitigate climate change consequences in order to allow the
environment to be viable and productive in food resources.
However green revolution practices evidences indicating that excessive reliance on monoculture
farming and agro industrial inputs, such as capital-intensive technology, pesticides, and chemical
fertilizers that may negatively impact the environment and rural society; it will be an obligation
for our systems to face those critical corners of our development with appropriate mechanisms
that ensure environmental viability.
The economy of Rwanda is based on the agricultural sector. Farmers are living at mercy of the
weather. A single storm can flatten a crop, kill herds of livestock and raze agricultural out
buildings. Floods which happen sometime in rain season can sweep away all plantations even the
topsoil. The high winds and violent rainfall can lay waste staple during the rainy season.
4
A drought is equally catastrophic in this part of Africa and it is causing the most damage to the
farm. The fragile, semi-arid and arid soils like the south part and eastern part of Rwanda and
most of part of region of Eastern Africa is prone to be desert.
The adaptability on climate change takes its roots from technological application adjusting
rainwater utilization and mainly roof waters, agro forestry application in each and every cropping
system, organic manure use in order to preserve the fertility and viability for microorganisms,
capacity building in terms of information transmission on sustainable agriculture techniques in
order to create and strengthen awareness of small population grouped in farmer producers
organizations (cooperatives).
1.5 Crop production
Agricultural production in Rwanda can be grouped into three categories: food crops
(leguminous, cereals, roots and tubers, banana); the traditional cash crops (coffee, tea,
pyrethrum) and the new cash crops or export crops (fruits and vegetables, flowers, spices). Food
crops occupy 92% of the total cultivated land; while coffee and tea occupy respectively 6,3 and
1,6 of the total cultivated land (MINAGRI, 2010). The dominant farm type is smallholder due to
the fact that Rwandan population is young in high rates which induce the lands to be divided into
small parts by parents giving their young married children. Not only for parents to their kids but
also the general population pressure on land resources cause this by sharing among community
members in order to use those lands.
The rural economy of Rwanda is based on traditional agriculture, semi-intensive, subsistencebased production with important improvements towards intensive cropping systems. It is not
easy for Rwanda to practice full intensive agriculture with monoculture-based cropping and
mechanized due to its topography, soil structure, farmer producers’ skills and mindset,
population growth status, labor force in the sector and means.
5
CHAPTER 2 FOOD CROPPING RWANDA
2.1 Banana
The Rwandan Banana industry presents consumption types of Banana products in three main
forms such as Brewing Bananas at 60%, cooking bananas at 30% and dessert Bananas at 10%
(RADA 2010). Banana is a reliable crop that contributes highly in household income, food
security and regional trading. Banana is the second major food crop in Rwanda next only to
beans. It is used both as food and cash crop (MINECOFIN, 2001, Kiiza et al. (2004).
The crop is grown all over the country by small-scale farmers, but principally in Eastern
province (ex- Kibungo), (ex-Gisenyi) and (ex-Cyangugu) in Western province. Banana requires
a tropical climate with temperatures ranging between 15 and 30o C and 1000-2000 mm of annual
rainfall. Bananas are evolving best on deep soils. The banana crops can give good yields in
around 1500 m and only a small portion in East part of the country is too dry for the production
of bananas. The soils in the central part of Rwanda may be a limiting factor for banana
production because of soil mineral-poor and thus may require a special program of fertilization.
Banana is a pro-ecological culture, highly suitable for downhill mountains.
The scope of banana industry in Rwanda since long ago has shown a reliance on brewing
banana. Brewing banana counts 60% of the total banana production in Rwanda banana industry.
That is, the reason is declining level of soil fertility which has been a major constraint to increase
the productivity especially for cooking banana and dessert species. Factors of this declining level
of soil fertility are based on population pressure in an increased way which induces agriculture
intensification. Kigali is the best at 80%, say 15,000 tons. The tremendous decrease is found in
the year 1994. After 1994 till now, the level of production measurement has shown an increase.
Rwanda is among top producers and top consumers even which induces it to imports from
mainly Uganda, Tanzania and Democratic Republic of Congo (MINAGRI, 2007). The
consumption of bananas in Rwanda is one of the highest in the Great Lakes region. In the year
2000, annual per capita consumption was estimated at 258 kg (ibid.). About 80% of Rwandan
6
households practice banana production mainly for household food security and income
generation. A typical household’s agricultural enterprise regime comprises 50% tubers, 30%
bananas and 20% legumes, cereals and vegetables (RADA, 2007).
2.2 Maize
According to International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), 2002, Maize is increasingly
becoming an important food and cash crop for small-scale farmers in Rwanda. According to an
earlier survey carried out in 1990, volume traded for the rural areas was estimated at about 5,000
tons while in 2000 this figure had risen to nearly 50,000 tons. The total quantity of maize
purchased has surpassed internal supply, making Rwanda a net importer of maize. While the
approximate quantity demanded (marketed) of maize in Rwanda is in the order of 55,000 tons
per annum, only about 30,000 of this is from internal production, implying a deficit of about
25,000 tons per annum, which is met by imports from Uganda and Tanzania.
Domestic demand for maize is driven by changes in the traditional markets of food and feed. The
food market is currently the most important accounting for about 55,000 tons of marketed output
and about 30,000 tons of subsistence output. On the other hand, the major feed producer in
Rwanda is expected to consume about 480 tons per month (5,760 tons per year) once full
production is achieved.
Quality is an important market variable with uniformity, cleanliness dryness and color being the
main parameters. This survey found that although Rwandan maize is clean, it contained grain of
different color increasing the costs of sorting and grading by about 25%. The current poor market
integration of maize farmers could be the primary socioeconomic explanation for this. Available
data indicate that there has been a decline in maize production. While average production during
the pre-war period (86-90) was about 90,000 tons per annum, that for the post war period
average (97-00) averaged 60,000 tons per annum, implying a decline of about 39% over the
period 1987-2000 (ISAR, 2002). While maize production has generally decreased, the population
has been increasing leading to a sharp fall in per capita maize production. Per capita production
has declined from about 16 kg per person in 1987 to about 8 kg per person in 2000, representing
in this case a decline of about 50 %.
7
Constraints facing maize production include both biotic and abiotic factors. However, the latter
combined with marketing problems are more responsible for limiting maize exploitation and
utilization in the country. There is insufficient production of good quality seed while the
multiplication and distribution system is not effective at getting the seeds to the poor farmers in
the country. Less than 2% of the farmers use quality seed mainly from NGOs, leaving the
majority of farmers with own seed saved from previous harvests.
2.3 Potatoes
Potatoes are a very important crop in Rwanda. In 2007, it was estimated that close to one million
tons of potatoes were produced in the country and that average per capita consumption was 125
kg (FAOSTAT). Only cassava contributes more energy to the average Rwandan's diet.
The research into use (RIU), one if NGOs operating in Rwanda facilitated Potato Innovation
Platform operates in Gicumbi District of Northern Rwanda. The key issue which emerged from
stakeholder discussions was the acute lack of quality seed potatoes.
This shortage is being addressed through initiatives focused on both the formal and informal seed
sectors. In the formal sector, the focus is on production of mini-tubers. In the informal sector the
focus is on capacity building of farmers to enable them to practice better selection of seed
potatoes from their own crops. Potatoes were identified as a key crop, because demand is very
high: in a six month period in 2009 prices increased by more than 100%. Potatoes grow well in
several parts of Rwanda and Gicumbi District has advantages due to environmental factors and
proximity to markets, Ministry of Agriculture (MINAGRI, 2010)
Potatoes were introduced in Rwanda in the early 1900s, but since the early 1960s they have
become a crop of increasing economic significance. Until the seventies, most varieties came
from Europe. Because of the 1994 Rwandan genocide and its consequences, germplasm has been
lost and varieties have degenerated, with a sharp drop in crop yields. The potato underpins
Rwanda's food security. Annual consumption is a very high at 125 kg per person, per year
making potato the country's second most important source of energy after cassava.
8
Table 1: Potato Production in Rwanda (tons)
Year
Harvested production
Year
Harvested production
2000
957,202
2005
1,314,050
2001
1,012,269
2006
1,285,149
2002
1,038,931
2007
967,000
2003
1,099,549
2008
1,162,000
2004
1,072,770
2009
1,200,000
Source: FAO Statistics Division 2010
2.4 Beans
2.4.1 Overview and place of beans in the agricultural sector in Rwanda
Beans are the primary source of dietary proteins in Rwanda as they supply 65% of national
dietary proteins compared to 4% from animal sources. Beans also contribute generous amount of
energy (32%); and of micronutrients: iron, zinc and vitamins A and B that promote normal
human body and cognitive growth and development. Due to their diversified nutritional content
and predominant protein supply in Rwandan diets, beans are regarded as a near-perfect food
(CIAT, 1995), and as the meat for the poor. However, the on-farm productivity of about 0.8 – 1.0
t ha-1 is still low compared with 2 t (for bush) and 5 t ha-1 (for climbers) that are achieved with
optimal management conditions. This low productivity, coupled with the high per capita
consumption for beans of 60 kg (three times of Africa’s) the demand for beans in outweighs
production and Rwanda is a net importer of bean grain that is equivalent to USD 12.9 million
(Ferris 2002).
The proliferation in population, especially in urban areas has recently created an exponential rise
in opportunity for marketing and earning income from beans by farmers. To exploit this, the
farmers will be better linked and be responsive to the specific bean markets and consumer
demands and preferences of grain types, such as the yellow, red, red mottled and white seeded
beans that fetch premiums prices instead of the current predominant unmarketable mixed
varieties.
9
2.4.2 Bean production constraints in Rwanda
Self sufficiency in bean production in Rwanda is severely constrained by field and storage losses
due to damage caused by prevalent diseases and pests, (biotic factors) as well as soil and
moisture related abiotic problems that are compounded by poor agronomic management
practices
10
CHAPTER 3 CASH CROPPING IN RWANDA
The agricultural exports in Rwanda are composed of three main crops which are Coffee, Tea and
Pyrethrum. Tea is produced throughout the year while coffee and pyrethrum are produced on
seasonal basis.
3.1 Coffee
In Rwanda, the coffee industry plays an important role in the country’s economy. For many
years, coffee remains Rwanda’s top export and main source of foreign exchange income
(Boudreau, et al., 2009). It provides a livelihood for almost 500,000 Rwandan families
(approximately 2 millions of people, close to 25% of the total population (OCIR-CAFÉ 2005);
many of whom work in cooperatives and grow coffee on small plots (Boudreau et al., 2009). A
total of 38,559 hectares (MINAGRI, 2008) are located on the country’s hillsides. It is estimated
that 500,000 households, distributed over two-third of the country depend on coffee as an
important source of income.
The majority of Rwandan coffee growers mixed coffee trees with subsistence crops. Others
simply removed them or abandoned them towards staple crops. The current coffee productivity
in Rwanda is ranged from 750 kg to 2,500 kg per ha (about 0.3 to 1 kg per coffee tree) according
to efficiency of used using farming methods and coffee region. Coffee Arabica is the most coffee
cultivated (99%). Robusta constitutes 1% of the total coffee produce in Rwanda. According to
Descroix and Sonek (2009), there are six basic environment factors that need to be taken into
account while selecting the best suitable places to plant coffee. i.e temperature, water
availability, sunshine intensity, wind type, soil type and topography of the land.
Temperature values and their fluctuations have significant impact on the behavior of the coffee
tree. The optimum mean temperature for coffee Arabica is given as 18oC during the night and
22oC during the day whereas optimal average annual temperatures are given between 22 and
28oC. Tolerated extremes extend to 15oC during the night and 25-30oC during the day.
Temperature higher than 25oC cause reduced photosynthesis and prolonged exposure to the
temperature above 30oC incur leaf chlorosis and generate “star flowers”, or blossom wilting as
well as defective fruit set. High temperature also favors the development of coffee Leaf Rust and
11
fruit blight in coffee plant and accelerate fruit maturation whist low temperature favors coffee
berry diseases (Wintgens, 2009). Rainfall pattern also matters. It must include a few months
with little or no rain and this period is necessary to induce flowering. A total annual rainfall
between 1400 and 2000 mm is favorable for Arabica growing, whereas Robusta need about
2000-2500 mm. Rate below 800-1000 mm for Arabica and 1200 mm for Robusta, even if they
are well distributed, can be hazardous to the productivity of the coffee plantation.
Coffee sector in Rwanda is a source of household income mobility which contributes to the
livelihood of great number of the population starting from small farmer producers, marketers in
various categories, national exports and to national GDP.
In 2000, there were only two coffee washing stations (cws) in the country and neither of them
was operational. There was no knowledge of processing and storage techniques, financial and
administrative management of washing stations, and no established marketing contacts with
premium quality importers and roasters.
In 2005, the forty six stations produced 1,107 metric tons of fully washed coffee. Thousands of
Rwandans have been trained in improved production techniques, wet processing, storage,
cupping, financial and cooperative management, and marketing. The rapidity with which the
sector has evolved is unprecedented and has surprised virtually every knowledgeable industry
insider. The evolution of coffee production in Rwanda and the transformation of Rwanda’s
coffee sector have happened relatively quickly. In 2000, Rwandan farmers were producing semiprocessed coffee for sale on world markets. Farm gate prices paid to farmers were low
(60Frws/kg) and the prospects for farmers and exporters to increase income or profits were
limited.
Since the late 1990s, the government has liberalized the sector by removing a variety of barriers
to trade, creating new incentives for groups and individuals to invest in coffee production and
facilitating entrepreneurship in the coffee industry. In a focused, decade-long effort, the
government, working with the private sector and with donors, has reshaped this important
industry: the regulatory framework for coffee production has been modified, over 100 coffee
12
washing stations have been built, donors have supported the development of market linkages
between producers and foreign buyers, cooperatives have been formed, and smallholder farmers
are working together in an effort to increase quality and improve marketing and branding.
3.2 Tea
In Rwanda, tea was introduced as an industrial crop in early 1960. Black tea production started in
1965. Since then, the tea sector has become the most important source of export earnings after
the coffee market plunged in recent years. Tea is now number one export earner; contributing up
to 34% of the total national exports.
Figure 2: Farmers harvesting tea leaves in Kitabi Factory Area, 2010
Since its introduction in Rwanda, tea production and
export earnings from it increase steadily except during the
1994 war. In year 2002, 16000 tones of made tea were
produced and export earnings totaled to US$ 23 million.
Tea export totaled to 34% of the total of Rwanda export
earnings. The current tea sector consists of 10 tea
factories, 8 government owned plantation known as industrial Blocks, 3 tea cooperatives known
as Coopthés and 11 tea small holders associations known as Thé Villageois. The total planted
area is 12,862 hectares. The factories installed capacity is 15,500 tones of made tea per annum.
The tea sector provides employment to 52,838 people, tea farmers and workers together. A
combination of high altitude, good rainfall and local tropical type of soil favour high productivity
and quality in Rwanda. Presently, quality and productivity are not sufficient competitives. We
have the best quality in Kitabi, Gisovu, and Mata. The good quality in Pfunda, Nyabihu, Rubaya,
good medium in Gisakura, medium in Mulindi and Shagasha.
13
3.3 Pyrethrum Production in Rwanda
The pyrethrum crop is one of main important cash crops currently under extensive improvement.
This is because various researches and applications are experimented in East African region
about the pyrethrum production. Most of huge investments are jointly undertaken by the USA,
UK and the Government of Rwanda in the promotion and increase of pyrethrum production
(MINAGRI, 2010). Companies that rely on access to pyrethrum require a sustainable and
consistent high-quality source of correctly processed flowers.
Figure 3: Pyrethrum Farmers in Musanze District
USAID, SC Johnson, and Texas AgriLife Research
Institute are working together to ensure the long-term,
sustainable and responsible development of Rwanda’s
pyrethrum flower industry. By working with farmers
to set up cooperatives that promote best practices in
terms of pyrethrum collection, transportation and
drying; partners seek to improve and accelerate
training of farmers in flower production. Alliance
partners are also working with the country’s only
pyrethrum processing plant to design and implement a credit program that will enable
smallholder farmer groups to borrow money to purchase equipment for properly drying flowers.
Through these efforts, alliance partners had increased production from the 219 tons of dried
flowers produced in 2008 to 500 tons in 2010 while also increasing their pyrethrum content.
14
CHAPTER 4 CONCLUSIONS
Rwanda, one of the landlocked countries in central Africa, relies essentially on agriculture. This
sector is considered as an engine of life development and as raw material in up warding the other
sectors such as industry and services and thus the whole economy. Agricultural development is
currently being intensified in sides, cash cropping as well as food crops. Due to geographical
location of the country, not touching to a board of Sea nor Ocean and few elements of mineral
resources; agriculture is an important economic resource. Food and cash crops such as Maize,
Beans, banana, coffee and tea play a major role in stabilizing food security in the first place and
then impact greatly on national GDP throughout annual exports.
Maize, Beans and Banana industry plays an important role to the totality of the population food
security and acts as households’ income provider. They are cropped countrywide on 65% of the
arable land. Weaknesses in adaptability have shown a decrease in yielding and these accelerate
imports despite Rwandan international ranking among producers.
The main cash crops include Coffee, Tea and Pyrethrum. The Coffee industry plays an important
role in the country’s development. For many years, coffee remains Rwanda’s top export and
main source of foreign exchange income. Adding value to the coffee supply chain is adding
direct economic benefits and important indirect social benefits to the lives of individuals and to
the health of communities in Rwanda. Tea sector is the second after coffee to bring to the
country foreign currencies and contributing to the livelihoods of thousands of Rwandan
population. The pyrethrum crop production in Rwanda is relatively significant and the country
together with USAID is currently providing various extension services to the farmers in Northern
region in order to increase the pyrethrum yield.
But on the other hands, the agriculture in Rwanda is still traditional, which needs to be really
improved in order to increase the agricultural production significantly and sustainably.
15
REFERENCES
Books
Ir Sihimbiro Francois, Sustainable impact in the Rwandan coffee sector, SNV case study 2008.
Karol C. Boudreaux, A Better Brew for Success Economic Liberalization in Rwanda’s Coffee
Sector, 2009
Reports and Journals
Agricultural Policy Development Project Research Report No. 14, The Impact of Agricultural
Growth on Employment in Rwanda: A Three-Sector Model, August 2002.
OCIRTHE, A new tea sector strategy for Rwanda year 2005-2010, December 2006.
MINAGRI, (RADA), Statistics of Trend in crop production, August 2010.
International Institute of Tropical Agriculture and ISAR, Maize sub-sector market survey on
Rwanda, November 2002
FAO statistics Division, Potatoes platform innovation, Annual report, 2010
GoR, National Agricultural Policy, March 2004.
Government of Rwanda, “REMA, Rwanda State of Environment and Outlook Report”, 2009.
Websites consulted
http://www.theodora.com/wfbcurrent/rwanda/rwanda_economy.html
http://www.spread.org.rw/spread_project.php
http://www.researchintouse.com/programmes/riu-rwanda/riu-rw42innovplat-potato.html
www.minagri.gov.rw
www.minecofin.gov.rw
16