Rwanda plans USD 13M investment in fruit tree planting program

Published October 24, 2024

RWANDA – The Rwandan government is set to launch a USD 13 million program aimed at boosting fruit tree production across the country.

The initiative, called “Five Fruit Trees Per Household,” will begin with a pilot phase on October 24, 2024, and is expected to plant six million trees over the next five years.

The program, spearheaded by the Ministry of Agriculture, aims to significantly increase the number of fruit trees planted in rural households across 13 districts.

These districts are located in the West, North, East, and South provinces. Alexandre Rutikanga, a senior technical advisor at the Ministry, explained that the main goal is to improve both the food security and economic conditions of households.

“Fruit trees are expected to not only transform people’s lives but also contribute to Rwanda’s long-term food security and economic growth,” Rutikanga said.

He highlighted that the trees—avocado, mango, papaya, guava, and citrus—would provide families with nutritional benefits and a potential source of income.

The initiative is seen as a step toward ensuring sustainable agricultural practices in Rwanda, where the agricultural sector employs more than half the population and contributes 27% of the country’s GDP.

The horticultural industry plays a vital role in the economy, accounting for 50% of non-traditional agricultural exports.

In 2023, fruit production alone was estimated at over 147,300 tons, according to the Rwanda National Institute of Statistics.

In addition to supporting food security, the program is also expected to reduce the impact of climate change.

Trees are known to act as natural carbon sinks, and the mass planting of fruit trees could help mitigate greenhouse gas emissions in the country. This is in line with Rwanda’s broader environmental goals and its Vision 2050 strategy.

This new initiative follows another significant investment in Rwanda’s agricultural sector. In early October, the government announced a USD 10 million project to introduce genetically modified organisms (GMOs) into key crops like cassava, maize, and potatoes.

Funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, this five-year initiative aims to improve crop resilience against pests, diseases, and climate change.

The government’s strategy to introduce GMOs is seen to further enhance food security and increase household incomes.

The Rwanda Agriculture and Animal Resources Development Authority (RAB) is partnering with international biotechnology organizations to fast-track the development of GMO varieties in the country.