The government is set to benefit from €5 million in funding from Germany, channelled through the African Development Bank’s Transition Support Facility, to support the rollout of climate-smart agricultural technologies.

The funding will benefit six countries: Rwanda, Uganda, Tanzania, Mozambique, Malawi, and Nigeria.

At least €1 million of the total funding will go to Rwanda.

Solange Uwituze, Minister of State at the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources, said the financing will help operationalise the country’s "food basket sites” (FoBaSi), a key component of Rwanda’s agricultural transformation strategy.

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Food basket sites, alongside agrihubs, are part of a new approach to managing agricultural land under the Fifth Strategic Plan for Agriculture Transformation (PSTA 5). The model focuses on consolidating high-potential farmland to enable coordinated interventions from both public and private actors.

So far, the government has mapped 13,379 food basket sites nationwide, covering more than 495,000 hectares. Each site has undergone a needs assessment, with site-based agronomists deployed to guide farmers.

Uwituze said the funding will support seed production, strengthen research systems, train agronomists, and create jobs for young people in agriculture.

"The €5 million funding... will increase agricultural productivity, especially in mapped food basket sites. It will help produce quality seeds, train agronomists, and create youth jobs, while supporting research in seed systems,” she said.

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Participating countries have already validated a joint work plan and agreed on implementation arrangements to accelerate the deployment of climate-smart technologies.

Key focus areas include strengthening seed systems and early-generation seed production, building the capacity of research and extension services, empowering youth in agricultural innovation, and expanding digital advisory services. Priority crops include rice, wheat, and cassava.

Driving productivity and food security

Uwituze said the funding comes at a critical time as Rwanda targets a 13-fold increase in agricultural productivity per hectare by 2050.

With only 1.4 million hectares allocated to agriculture under the national land-use master plan, the country faces the challenge of feeding a fast-growing population projected to reach up to 23 million by mid-century.

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"The question is how to feed a growing, more educated, and more demanding population with limited land,” she said. "Food basket sites are part of the solution.”

The model integrates site-based agronomists working directly with farmers, while digital tools, including satellite monitoring enable real-time tracking of farming activities.

A pilot project in Nyaruguru District has already demonstrated strong results, with maize yields rising from three tonnes per hectare to 8.2 tonnes in a single season.

Unlocking finance and jobs

The programme also aims to improve farmers’ access to finance. Organised farmers will be able to use their produce as collateral, helping them secure loans for key farming activities.

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In addition, food basket sites are covered by a government-subsidised insurance scheme, where farmers pay 60 percent of premiums and the government covers the remaining 40 percent, reducing risks for lenders and enabling more affordable credit.

Authorities are also working with the central bank to introduce behavioural credit scoring, allowing farmers to access loans within 48 hours via mobile platforms.

Under the National Strategy for Transformation (NST2/PSTA 5), Rwanda aims to increase agricultural growth from 2 percent to 6 percent annually by 2029.

Agriculture currently supports more than 400,000 jobs across agri-food systems, with a target to exceed 600,000 jobs by 2029.

Youth at the centre

Rwanda is also partnering with the African Development Bank on a separate $300 million climate-smart agriculture programme to scale up these initiatives, boost private sector participation, and expand digital solutions.

Matieyedou Konlambique, country representative of the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), said the €5 million Technologies for African Agricultural Transformation (TAAT) programme will prioritise youth involvement in the seed sector.

"We will identify young people engaged in agriculture and build their capacity in partnership with seed companies, while facilitating access to finance, knowledge, and markets,” he said.

The project aims to support around 150 youth-led agribusinesses, linking them to large seed companies and farmer service centres to ensure reliable markets.

The programme will initially be implemented over two years.

However, challenges remain. Dieudonnee Niyodushisma, a young agripreneur, pointed to limited access to land as a major barrier.

"Young people could play a bigger role in food basket sites if there were mechanisms to utilise idle state-owned land,” he said.