Land ownership to trigger investments

Land is currently considered as a collateral to many, a move that will improve access to financial services and boost income of Rwandans. Rwanda is said to be exemplary in Africa given the key thrusts of its current land reform agenda. Recently, during a press conference on the up-coming agri-business forum, John Gara, Chief Executive Officer of RDB, said that there is a plan of contract farming thus land ownership and title, is vital for the business. Gara said that land titles will help investors know how to deal with terms of lease and outgrower’s scheme. “Sustainable management of natural resources is seen as a quick foundation of improving livelihoods and one critical asset in this connection is land,” said Stanislas Kamanzi, Minister of environment and lands. In an exclusive interview, Kamanzi, said laws regarding protection of natural resources in Rwanda are well elaborated and provide a clear framework for effective protection of the natural resources. “Presently, we are carrying out systematic land registration to legalise ownership rights that would promote productivity,” he said. According to Kamanzi, full land ownership will trigger investment in agriculture. Regarding other natural resources, Kamanzi said that the focus is on value addition prior to export thus creating new jobs and increasing revenues from exports. The minister noted that there was a need for more information and for people to have the right to demand and get information on decisions which affect them. “If people are to make informed decisions, then they should be able to get information on matters which impact on the decision-making process,” he said. He said that the contribution of traditional knowledge in preserving, maintaining and sustaining the environment is still low. “Unfortunately it remains illusory mainly due to scarcity main natural resources especially demographic problems,” he added. Ends