H.E Belen Calvo UYARRA, Ambassador of the EU Delegation in Rwanda
On Tuesday, 31 October 2023, the European Union and Government of Rwanda will officially launch “Kungahara”, a new initiative combining 14 projects worth over 100 million Euros designed to tackle food insecurity in Rwanda.
These projects come on the back of higher consumer price indices with about 20.6% of Rwandan households remaining food insecure according to the 2021 Comprehensive Food Security and Vulnerability Assessment report.
The Kungahara projects will promote sustainable food production, inclusive agricultural value chains and targeted interventions in vulnerable communities.
The launch event will include a panel discussion on “Food security in Rwanda; opportunities and challenges”.
Because of low on-farm investments and uptake of innovative production technology (e.g. improved seeds meeting market demand, targeted fertilizers based on soil composition, mechanization) productivity is low and vulnerable to climate change impacts. To incentivize on-farm investments and adoption of improved technology, farming must become more economically viable to those engaged in agriculture. Increasing commercialization, a key component of agricultural transformation, relies on three main pillars, reducing transaction costs, diminishing risk, and providing sufficient productive assets.
The launch of the KUNGAHARA projects represents a significant step forward in addressing food security challenges in Rwanda. By promoting sustainable food production, inclusive agricultural value chains, and targeted interventions in vulnerable communities, the project is poised to make a substantial impact. During the launch event, the panel discussion on food security will provide a platform for stakeholders to deliberate on the current state of food security in Rwanda, paving the way for effective, data-driven solutions to the country’s food security challenges.
The KUNGAHARA Projects is evidence of the commitment of the European Union Delegation to Rwanda and its partners in ensuring that no Rwandan goes hungry and that the nation’s food security improves for generations to come. (End)