Agriculture
Agriculture employs more than 70% of the total population in Rwanda. As outlined under the Vision 2020 and EDPR II targets, agriculture is expected to play a critical role in poverty alleviation efforts and overall economic prosperity through job creation and supporting key industries. The main focus of Agricultural Department at BRD is to provide financing for the development and modernization of sector.Â
Our Impact in 2021
1
100
M Frw
in loan disbursements
ha
IRRIGATED
JOBS CREATED
Our Interventions
In its new Strategy, BRD’s modernization program is to focus on enabling irrigation and broad mechanization investments. This will include enabling modernized distribution of inputs and providing leasing for mechanization equipment.
As Rwanda aims to have at least 100,000ha of land irrigated by 2018, BRD will contribute to this objective by providing debt financing to cooperatives and other investors carrying out irrigation projects. BRD financing will also be done through refinancing as an indirect means to reach investors at a micro level.
BRD intends to launch an agro-processing development program designed to strengthen linkages in agriculture value chain. This program targets the whole value chain including cooperatives of farmers, distributors of inputs and agro-processors.
tea_kenya_farm_creditciat_flickrIn addition to contract farming, this program will also fund targeted value chain research activities, specific linkages initiatives and value addition projects initiated by farmers. This could include training and capacity building for the farmers. This program will require an investment of $10.4million from BRD account throughout 5 years.
To boost the production of farmers in both quality and quantity, BRD will provide capital to finance distribution of inputs. The inputs will mainly include fertilizers, and will be expected to contribute to the achievement of the national objective of fertilizer application (kg/ha/annum) of 45 in 2020
BRD will provide of equity and debt capital to investors involved in agro processing. This will provide greater alternatives for suppliers while also boosting both exports and job creation. In total financing to agro processing industries is estimated to reach $92million over the course of 5 years.
The agriculture risk mitigation program aim at minimizing and mitigating risks associated with the financing of agriculture projects. The focus will be on both crop yield and revenue covering the following areas:
- Farm productivity levels;
- Reduced post-harvest losses;
- Suitable prices and conditions;
- Quality control and inspection of commodities.