Last week, the Prime Minister presented to both chambers of Parliament highlights of activities government plans to implement in the financial year 2013/2014.They range from welfare, economy to governance and justice with specific targets. In one of the priority areas; agriculture, government plans to implement a number of activities this fiscal year ranging, from increasing the cultivatable terraces to improving land consolidation mechanisms.In the first season of 2014, government plans to consolidate 612,031 hectares of land, while in the second, it targets to consolidate 596,844 hectares.Agriculture, being a backbone of Rwandan economy, there is a need to place a high premium on it, in terms of attention and funding in order to prop up production and productivity.With Rwanda’s agriculture sector employing about 80 per cent of its population, the line ministry needs to put in place the right mechanisms, including supervision of systems for it to run efficiently.To transform agriculture, there is need to move away from the primary methods of production that are often characterised by scattered small firms. From experience, such methods of production cannot take us anywhere. More sustained and coordinated efforts in land consolidation and modernising agriculture are needed to help spur growth. Also critical in this regard is infrastructure development, including construction of feeder roads, to help farmers to access markets more easily.The other priorities are ‘foundation issues’ in the country’s life such as health, education, and social protection.Investment in the citizens’ health is critical since a healthy population is pivotal to economic development.Equally investment in quality education and hands-on skills will make Rwandans competitive on the local and regional market and this will directly have a great impact on both the quality and quantity of production.In particular, quality education and skills development will unlock innovation, spur industrialisation and entrepreneurship, as well as create badly needed jobs.
