National Discussion on Eco- Friendly Farming Held in Rwanda, as Perscribed on Our Website on June 27, 2025
Title: Rubavu, Rwanda - A Green Revolution in Action!
Let's cut to the chase - Rubavu, Rwanda is abuzz with an eco-friendly food revolution! Last month, the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources (MINAGRI), joined forces with the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and APEFA, to host a national dialogue focused on revolutionizing sustainable food systems in the region. The event was a smashing success, and here's a behind-the-scenes look at what went down!
The main topic of discussion? The "Five Fruits Per Household" program, a pioneering initiative aimed at building a healthier, greener, and more self-sufficient future for the community. This forward-thinking program tackles capacity building, infrastructure development (such as seedling nurseries), and market linkage facilitation to ensure successful fruit tree cultivation and consumption at the household level. By creating a fruit-abundant environment, the program aims to boost dietary diversity, enhance nutritional outcomes, foster economic growth (particularly among smallholder farmers, women, and youth), and concurrently protect the environment and conserve biodiversity.
IUCN is all in on supporting this noble cause, as part of their mission to contribute to productive landscapes within the Nature 2030 Vision by accelerating the global transition to sustainable agriculture. And guess who footed the bill? Why, none other than the IKEA Foundation, of course!
The dialogue saw agriculture and conservation pros from MINAGRI, Rwanda Agriculture and Animal Resources Development Board (RAB), Rwanda Forestry Authority (RFA), Rwanda Environment Management Authority (REMA), Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN), One Acre Fund, district officials, civil society, the private sector, and even farmer representatives gather under one roof to discuss the program's development.
The event opened with a bang as Kaori Yasuda, IUCN's Country Representative in Rwanda, set the mood by reaffirming their mission in the region: to support the government and communities in restoring lands, farms, biodiversity, and building resilient ecosystems that sustain essential services for people and nature. Yasuda also shared that under a 2024 Memorandum of Understanding between IUCN and MINAGRI, the two institutions are collaborating on sustainable agriculture initiatives.
The dialogues that took place in Rubavu can be traced back to a regional movement ignited by IUCN over the past three years. In collaboration with various government ministries and key stakeholders from Eastern and Southern Africa (ESARO), High-Level Common Ground Dialogues on Sustainable Agriculture were held across the region, with national-level events in Tanzania, Malawi, Rwanda, and Uganda. These dialogues aimed to scale up agroecological practices, agrobiodiversity, promote inclusive food systems, and mainstream Nature-Based Solutions (NbS) across Africa's agricultural landscapes.
But enough with the dreary details! On to the good stuff - field visits! The team toured several pilot orchards established under the Five Fruit Trees per Household program in Rubavu. The initiative, launched in October 2024 by Minister Dr. Mark Cyubahiro, has supported the planting of fruit trees like avocado, mango, papaya, and orange across Rubavu District, aimed at improving household nutrition and generating income.
The local farmers were brimming with optimism, expressing hope for long-term benefits. Vestine Mukamwiza, a smallholder farmer in Rubavu, shared her enthusiasm: "I've planted avocado trees through this initiative. They're still young, but I believe they'll one day provide my family with healthy fruits and even help me earn extra income at the market."
Similar feelings were echoed by Jean de Dieu Nkurunziza, another farmer participating in the Model Orchards initiative: "This program has opened my eyes to the potential of fruit tree farming. We were trained to care for the fruits and grow vegetables alongside them. I'm positive that once the fruits mature, they'll boost our nutrition and household income!"
The Rubavu dialogue is just a small stepping stone in this monumental journey towards a greener, more sustainable future. As we collectively work towards integrating community-driven initiatives, scientific insights, and political will, Rwanda is gearing up to develop an agricultural model that could inspire the continent, setting a powerful example of Nature-Based Solutions (NbS) in action.
So buckle up, folks! Rubavu to Abu Dhabi (for the IUCN World Conservation Congress) is just around the corner, and it's going to be one wild ride. A united voice and shared determination are what we need to turn vision into reality. Here's to making a difference, together! Let's do this!
- The Five Fruits Per Household program, a pioneering initiative in Rubavu, Rwanda, not only aims to boost dietary diversity and enhance nutritional outcomes but also fosters economic growth and concurrently protects the environment and conserves biodiversity, making it a science-driven approach towards health-and-wellness and sustainable agriculture.
- IUCN, as part of their mission to contribute to productive landscapes within the Nature 2030 Vision, supports sustainable agriculture initiatives and works to mainstream Nature-Based Solutions (NbS) across Africa's agricultural landscapes, focusing on areas such as climate change mitigation, biodiversity conservation, and health-and-wellness.
- The dialogue in Rubavu, aimed at revolutionizing sustainable food systems, brought together experts from various sectors, including agriculture, conservation, and environmental science, to discuss the program's development and promote inclusive food systems and agroecological practices.
- As part of their commitment to supporting sustainable agriculture, the IKEA Foundation contributed essential funding to the Five Fruits Per Household program in Rubavu, demonstrating the importance of private-sector involvement in environmental conservation, health-and-wellness initiatives, and sustainable agriculture.
