Rwanda’s agricultural output has grown steadily over the past decade, but that progress has yet to translate into reduced dependence on imported processed foods, according to the National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda (NISR).
Jean Claude Mwizerwa, NISR’s Deputy Director General, said while agricultural production expanded between 2017 and 2024, imports of processed foods surged far faster, highlighting weaknesses in domestic agro-processing and value addition.
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Processed food imports jumped from Rwf 238 billion in 2017 to about Rwf 1,174 billion in 2024. Over the same period, Rwanda exported food worth Rwf 746 billion in 2024, leaving the country a net importer of processed food products.
"This points to gaps in agro-processing capacity and value addition,” Mwizerwa said, adding that exports remain significantly lower than imports despite improvements in primary production.
To close the gap, he said Rwanda must reduce food insecurity by improving post-harvest management, expanding market access and increasing farmers’ access to productive resources, particularly in high-risk areas.
Strengthening agricultural value chains and investing in climate-smart and conservation agriculture are also critical.
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"Building climate resilience through early warning systems, disaster preparedness and private sector mobilisation—especially through better access to finance and a supportive business environment is essential for sustainable food security and job creation,” Mwizerwa said.
Between 2017 and 2024, agricultural output grew by an average of about 4 per cent annually, below the National Strategy for Transformation (NST) target of 5.7–6 per cent.
Over the same period, household consumption as a share of total agricultural production declined from 85 per cent to 68.9 per cent, suggesting more produce is entering the market rather than being consumed at subsistence level.
Population pressure
Mwizerwa warned that Rwanda’s population could rise from about 14 million today to nearly 23 million within the next 30 years, further intensifying pressure on food systems.
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"With population density projected to increase from 591 people per square kilometre in 2025 to 876 by 2050, agricultural production per hectare must rise significantly,” he said, stressing the need for professional farming to address crop diseases, climate shocks and productivity constraints.
Trade economist John Bosco Kalisa described the country’s status as a net importer of processed food as a serious economic challenge.
"Food imports drain resources that could otherwise be invested in productive infrastructure and social services such as education and health,” he said, calling for incentives to attract more investors into agro-processing and agricultural production, alongside the adoption of modern technologies to raise yields.
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Placide Nshuti, Assistant FAO Representative in Rwanda, said scaling up farmer field schools and climate-resilient agriculture practices would be key to sustaining production.
Deputy Speaker of Parliament Beline Uwineza highlighted irrigation as a critical lever for food security, especially as climate change disrupts rainfall patterns.
According to the Comprehensive Food Security and Vulnerability Analysis (CFSVA), 83 per cent of households in Rwanda are food secure, while about 17 per cent, roughly 551,000 households are moderately food insecure. An additional 35,523 households remain severely food insecure.
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Closing the irrigation gap
More than 417,000 hectares of land with irrigation potential remain undeveloped. Agriculture Minister Telesphore Ndabamenye said irrigation has been developed on 37,273 hectares of marshlands (30 per cent), 10,159 hectares of hillsides (4 per cent) and 27,791 hectares under the Small-Scale Irrigation Technology programme (31 per cent).
Overall, irrigated land has nearly doubled from 36,544 hectares in 2016/17 to more than 70,000 hectares in 2024/25. The government targets an 85 per cent increase by 2029, to reach 132,961 hectares.
About 600,000 hectares have also been designated as consolidated "food basket areas” for professional farming.
Agricultural economist Alfred R. Bizoza said land consolidation should be fully leveraged, noting that viable investment typically requires at least five hectares.
Beyond crops
Policymakers say boosting livestock and fish production is equally important. Senator Alphonse Nkubana called for subsidies on livestock feed, while farmers such as pig producer Jean Claude Shirimpumu urged stronger farmer associations to ease access to finance.
At the policy level, Aimable Niyonshuti, in charge of agricultural planning at the Ministry of Finance, said agriculture has been prioritised in budget consultations for the 2026/27 fiscal year, with a focus on irrigation in the Eastern Province, the Gabiro agribusiness hub and artificial insemination programmes.
Agro-processing push
Eugenie Kayitesi, Executive Director of IPAR-Rwanda, said strengthening agro-processing for both crops and livestock is critical to reducing post-harvest losses and cutting imports.
The value of goods produced by Rwanda’s agro-processing factories nearly tripled—from Rwf 369 billion in 2017 to more than Rwf 1 trillion in 2024—as the number of factories increased.
Prime Minister Justin Nsengiyumva said the government is continuing to ease private sector investment in agro-processing. The Ministry of Trade and Industry has also announced that two new industrial parks in Nyagatare and Nyabihu will be dedicated exclusively to agro-processing and designed around circular economy models.
As Rwanda looks to feed a growing population while reducing import dependence, analysts agree that closing the agro-processing gap will be as important as increasing farm-level production.