The government is considering changes to its agricultural input subsidy programme to reduce unpaid debts to suppliers while maintaining the supply of fertiliser and seed to farmers, parliament heard on Tuesday, October 27. The proposed reform comes amid complaints about rising input prices, shortages of some fertilisers, unreliable access to the Smart Nkunganire System and concerns over seed performance. ALSO READ: Lawmakers push for faster agric mechanization and input delivery “A detailed study is underway on how the input subsidy programme can be reformed to reduce the government’s subsidy debts to contractors without undermining the commitment to keep raising the quantity of inputs used,” the Minister of Agriculture and Animal Resources Telesphore Ndabamenye told the lawmakers. He added that the government would continue working with the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning and the Ministry of Local Government to find additional funding to sustain input supply. ALSO READ: Farmers push for more subsidies on agric inputs The government is also using soil research to improve the effectiveness of fertiliser supplied to farmers. A study conducted in 2024 through the Rwanda Soil Information System (RwaSIS) project examined cultivated soils in different parts of the country to help improve fertiliser use and soil fertility. Working with local manufacturer Rwanda Fertilizer Company, the government has developed four fertiliser products, Tweze, Twihaze, Ongera and Ongera+, tailored to soil conditions and the nutrient requirements of potatoes, maize, rice and wheat. ALSO READ: Inside Rwanda’s major agric initiatives seeking Rwf20tn in financing Since the start of the current farming season, 613.65 tonnes of the new fertilisers have been supplied, according to the minister. Farmers face challenges accessing inputs The MPs raised concerns about the price and availability of seed, fertiliser and lime, as well as difficulties farmers encounter when using digital systems to access subsidised inputs. According to the lawmakers, the farmers say that the seed and fertiliser prices continue to rise despite government support, forcing some to buy less fertiliser than they need for their land. The minister attributed the pressure partly to higher international prices linked to conflicts in areas where inputs are produced and along supply routes. He said the government was covering at least 50 percent of the increased cost to prevent farmers from bearing the full burden. The ministry also acknowledged that NPK fertiliser was in short supply, with alternatives being used, while farmers had reported that lime was expensive and did not always arrive on time. Lime is subsidised at 50 percent. This means that at a price of Rwf112 per kilogramme, the government pays Rwf49.5 and the farmer pays Rwf62.5. The Smart Nkunganire System (SNS), which helps farmers access subsidised inputs, has also faced problems with internet connectivity, registration procedures and users’ digital skills. The ministry said it had held discussions with the Rwanda Agriculture and Animal Resources Development Board (RAB), Bank of Kigali, MTN and Airtel to address network problems affecting the system and the Mobile Ordering and Processing Application (MOPA). It is also considering allowing the systems to operate offline, with information synchronised automatically once users regain internet access.
