RWANDA DIGS DEEP INTO SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE WITH NEW STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP

New partnership with IUCN and APEFA charts bold path for eco-friendly agriculture and nutrition resilience

Agriculture Rwanda Food security Sustainable farming Climate smart agenda Partnership.
Rwanda Partners International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and the African Plant-Based Food Alliance (APEFA) on Sustainable Agriculture.
Rwanda Partners International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and the African Plant-Based Food Alliance (APEFA) on Sustainable Agriculture.


In a move to transform its agricultural landscape and combat climate-driven food insecurity, the Rwandan government has joined forces with the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and the African Plant-Based Food Alliance (APEFA) to roll out a climate-smart agenda that could position Rwanda as a continental model for sustainable farming.

At the center of this effort is the National High-Level Dialogue on Sustainable Agriculture, hosted in Kigali by IUCN. This gathering of stakeholders, from policymakers and researchers to farmers and development partners, focused on regenerative agricultural practices that both nourish people and restore the land.

One of the standout initiatives spotlighted at the dialogue is the “Five Fruits Per Household” campaign, an agroecological strategy that aims to embed fruit trees into traditional farming systems. The goal: improve diets, rebuild degraded soils, and reintroduce biodiversity into rural ecosystems through simple, low-cost interventions.

“This isn’t just about planting trees, it’s about planting resilience,” said Dr. Alphonce Guzha, Programme Manager at IUCN Rwanda. 

The dialogue highlighted nature-based solutions such as intercropping, agroforestry, and low-input land management as essential tools for reversing soil erosion and nutrient depletion. In parallel, Rwanda is exploring incentives and training programs to support smallholders who adopt regenerative practices. 

These efforts align with national priorities under the Strategic Plan for Agriculture Transformation (PSTA‑5) and the National Strategy for Economic Transformation (NST‑1).

The momentum didn’t stop at policy talk. Just days later, the Ministry of Environment and IUCN convened a cross-sectoral task force in Bugesera District, bringing together leaders from forestry, agriculture, and the private sector to align restoration goals with investment priorities.

APEFA, a key partner in the alliance, is also expected to drive change by promoting plant-based diets and alternative food systems. The organization plans to support market access for climate-friendly crops such as pulses and legumes, while also launching nutrition campaigns and research collaborations to broaden the appeal and impact of plant-derived foods.

Ultimately, this tripartite partnership aims to break the cycle of mono-cropping and environmental degradation that has plagued food production across the region. By combining policy innovation, community engagement, and agroecological science, Rwanda is embracing a systems-level shift that links nutrition, climate resilience, and economic opportunity.

If successful, the collaboration could offer a replicable blueprint for other nations wrestling with the dual crises of land degradation and food insecurity. For now, Rwanda is showing that the future of food may be rooted not just in the soil, but in how we care for it.

Comments

You must be logged in to comment.