On October 27, 2026, Rwandan Minister of Agriculture and Animal Resources, Dr. Telesphore Ndabamenye, addressed lawmakers in the Chamber of Deputies. He was responding to questions from deputies regarding the challenges facing agricultural production. Deputy Pie Nizeyimana raised concerns about the rising cost of living and suggested that citizens could play a role in increasing food availability by utilizing their home gardens.
Deputy Nizeyimana questioned the minister about the progress of a campaign to encourage home gardening, which aims to replace ornamental plants with fruit and vegetable production. He asked about the campaign's achievements and its potential to help mitigate the rising cost of food. The deputy emphasized that home gardening could be a vital strategy to supplement other efforts to address food price increases and enhance household food security.
Deputy Jennifer Wibabara highlighted the potential of urban agriculture, citing the Kigali City master plan, which allocates 20% of urban land for agricultural purposes. She asked the minister to explain how the government plans to encourage citizens to utilize this land productively. Wibabara also inquired about Rwanda's progress in adopting urban agricultural technologies, such as hydroponics, which involve growing crops using water rather than soil.
In response, Minister Ndabamenye stated that the home gardening campaign is ongoing, but its effectiveness needs to be improved, particularly in urban areas. He emphasized the need to optimize land use, especially in cities, to increase food production. The minister encouraged citizens to use their land more productively, suggesting that ornamental plants could be replaced with fruit and vegetable production.
Many Rwandan homes have gardens that are used for decorative purposes, featuring ornamental plants, flowers, and trees. However, these gardens can also be used to produce fruits and vegetables, providing households with a steady supply of fresh produce. By adopting this approach, households can reduce their reliance on markets and enhance their food security.
Minister Ndabamenye announced that his ministry will launch a campaign to encourage citizens to plant fruit trees in their homes and along roadsides during the upcoming planting season. This initiative aims to promote fruit production and increase food availability. The government hopes that by supporting home gardening and urban agriculture, citizens will be able to produce a significant portion of their food needs.
The campaign to promote home gardening and urban agriculture is seen as a vital strategy to address food price increases and enhance household food security in Rwanda. By utilizing home gardens and urban land productively, citizens can reduce their reliance on markets, improve their livelihoods, and contribute to the country's overall food security.
Key points
- Rwandan lawmakers are urging citizens to turn their home gardens into fruit and vegetable production to combat rising food prices.
- The government aims to promote urban agriculture and home gardening to increase food availability and enhance household food security.
- The campaign to promote home gardening and urban agriculture will encourage citizens to plant fruit trees in their homes and along roadsides during the upcoming planting season.
