Rwanda has set its sights on overhauling its seed industry, with government and finance leaders arguing that better-quality, affordable and widely available seeds, backed by tailored funding, are essential to improve food security, create jobs and grow exports.
The push was outlined on Thursday, 15 January, at the launch of joint Memoranda of Understanding and an implementation plan for the private seed sector under the Private Sector Strategic Roadmap (2023–2030), a seven-year framework intended to improve coordination, guide investment and increase seed quality and supply nationwide.
Agriculture Minister Telesphore Ndabamenye said the initiative signalled a decisive move towards delivery. “This launch is not just ceremonial. It marks a shift from planning to action, from agreements on paper to tangible results that will transform our sector,” he said.
He urged seed companies to ensure high-yield varieties are “affordable, accessible, and timely”, warning that uncertainty over availability and pricing could undermine both food security and farmers’ incomes.
The challenge is evident in official data. The Seasonal Agricultural Survey for Season B 2025 shows only 18 per cent of farmers used improved seeds. Uptake among smallholders stood at 16.7 per cent, compared with 72.1 per cent for large-scale farmers, highlighting persistent gaps in access to modern inputs.
Ndabamenye said financing must be designed around agricultural realities. “Money is the engine of life. Farmers need access to tailored financial products that reduce risks across the value chain. A bankable and investable seed sector will boost our export potential,” he added.
Bank of Kigali chief executive Dr Diane Karusisi said progress depended on stronger collaboration and reduced risk throughout the sector. “If we don’t have the right seeds, we can forget about achieving these outcomes,” she said, pointing to the bank’s five-year agribusiness strategy, which combines tailored financial and non-financial support, digital tools and partnerships.
Karusisi said the bank’s agriculture portfolio rose from Rwf28 billion to Rwf96 billion in a year, “a 240 per cent increase”, adding: “If we all work together, we expect to close this year with a portfolio of Rwf140 billion. Agriculture could account for 15 per cent of our total loan book, or about Rwf300 billion.”
Additionally, the chairperson of the National Seed Association of Rwanda, Innocent Namuhoranye, said reforms were enabling private-sector led seed supply and exports. “Our partnership with Bank of Kigali will support seed development through access to capital, risk management tools, and tailored financial products for farmers, agribusinesses, and value chain actors,” he said.
Trade and Industry Minister Prudence Sebahizi said funds must also be affordable. “Let’s move from numbers to reality. Let’s see who is using that money and how we can make agricultural inputs, seeds, fertilizers, affordable to achieve food security,” she said.
Looking ahead, Sebahizi added: “By the end of 2026, we aim to see better seed quality, increased access to climate-resilient seeds, stronger private sector participation, expanded finance, and Rwanda positioned as a regional, if not global, leader in seed production and trade.”