News in brief: Rwanda is temporarily assigning vacant arable land to residents to enhance food security and combat rising food prices. This move aims to increase domestic food production and promote sustainable agriculture while reducing reliance on imports.
The Rwandan government will temporarily assign vacant plots of arable land across the country to residents for agricultural cultivation, a media report said.
This move is aimed at bolstering food security and tackle soaring food prices in the country. It comes at a crucial time when it struggles with rising food costs and tries to meet the dietary needs of its over 13.2 million people.
Rwanda’s minister of Agriculture and Animal Resources, Ildephonse Musafiri, made the announcement on Tuesday during a plenary session of the Lower House of Parliament. He was responding to concerns about soil erosion and the underutilisation of terraced land, which has been adversely impacting crop yields throughout the nation.
The minister emphasised that the top priority is to make sure that the country does not miss out on the potential food production of the 2024 farming season, which began in September 2023 and will end in February 2024
This initiative is part of the government’s broader efforts to promote sustainable agriculture and reduce reliance on imports. Rwanda is a heavily import-dependent country, with over 40% of its food coming from outside the country. This vulnerability has been exacerbated by the ongoing global food crisis, which has seen prices for staples such as wheat and rice skyrocket.
The government’s decision to allocate vacant arable land to residents has been lauded by many. It is hoped that it will help to increase domestic food production, while reducing the country’s reliance on imports.
Additionally, the initiative is also an opportunity to promote sustainable agriculture practices and address the challenges of soil erosion and land degradation.
