Rwanda’s Agricultural Sector Saw Growth in 2024, but Faced Challenges in Irish Potato Farming

The National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda (NISR) has reported that in 2024, agriculture and livestock covered 2.376 million hectares, making up 58% of the country’s total land. Agriculture remains a key part of Rwanda’s economy, supporting both livelihoods and food security.

The data comes from the Seasonal Agricultural Survey (SAS), which tracks crop yields and farming trends each year. The survey shows that crops such as maize, potatoes, rice, millet, sweet potatoes, cassava, bananas, and beans were widely planted in 2024.

In the first season (Season A), 1 million hectares were used for short-term crops like maize, beans, and millet. About 511,000 hectares were planted with long-term crops such as bananas, coffee, and tea. Additionally, 124,000 hectares were used for livestock farming, contributing to the country’s growing animal husbandry sector.

In the second season (Season B), the land used for both crops and livestock reached 1.35 million hectares, or 57% of the country’s total land. This was a slight decline of 1% compared to the first season. However, the yield per hectare for most crops remained strong.

Rice production showed significant improvement. In Season A, rice was planted on 17,173 hectares, up by 6% compared to 2023. The yield reached 69,098 tons, an 8% increase from the previous year. In Season B, rice was planted on 17,994 hectares, with a similar 6% increase from 2023. The yield for Season B was 72,834 tons, a 4% rise compared to last year.

The yield per hectare for rice reached 4.1 tons. Large-scale farmers harvested up to 4.2 tons per hectare in Season B. The rise in rice production is attributed to expanded cultivation areas, improved irrigation systems, and the use of better seed varieties.

Irish Potato farming, however, faced some challenges. The area planted with potatoes in Season A dropped by 3%, reaching 54,048 hectares. Despite this, the yield increased by 1%, reaching 460,830 tons. But in Season B, the area for potatoes declined by 13%, down to 41,836 hectares. In Season C, the decline continued with a 16% drop to 8,846 hectares.

In terms of yield, Season B saw a 13% decrease, with 285,596 tons harvested, while Season C experienced a 4% drop to 80,929 tons. Even though the total area for potatoes decreased, the yield per hectare remained good at 9.1 tons.

The NISR stressed the importance of agriculture in Rwanda’s economy and called for continued efforts to strengthen farming practices. It highlighted the need to protect key crops like potatoes, which are essential to the country’s food supply. The report also urged investments in modern farming techniques, better irrigation systems, and sustainable farming practices to ensure long-term growth.

Overall, while rice and livestock farming showed positive growth, the decline in potato farming calls for targeted support to safeguard key crops and sustain agricultural productivity in the future.