The Rwanda Agriculture and Animal Resources Development Board (RAB) held a two-day workshop to inaugurate the second phase of the Sustainable Agricultural Intensification and Food Security Project (SAIP II). The event marked the beginning of an ambitious journey towards boosting food security and enhancing agricultural productivity across the country.
The workshop convened a diverse array of stakeholders, including representatives from the World Bank Group, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), district officials from project sites, farmer representatives, project staff, and other key players in the agriculture sector.
Together, they engaged in dynamic discussions and panel sessions focused on critical aspects of SAIP II implementation activities.
These sessions delved into essential topics such as organizing cooperatives and delivering services, leveraging Small Scale Irrigation Technology (SSIT) for profitable farming, improving post-harvest handling and market linkages, and enhancing nutrition outcomes at the household level. Insights and lessons from these discussions are set to guide the effective implementation of SAIP II.
Building on the success of SAIP I, SAIP II is designed to significantly increase agricultural productivity, market access, and food security for targeted beneficiaries over the next three years.
The project is structured around four main components: Institutional Strengthening, Agriculture Productivity Enhancement and Nutrition Improvement, Irrigation and Water Use Efficiency, Market Linkages and Value Addition Investment Support, and Project Management and Technical Assistance.
SAIP II aims to achieve several key objectives, such as enhancing resilience to climate variability, boosting crop productivity and profitability, promoting sustainable agricultural practices, increasing the availability of diverse plant-based foods (including biofortified crops, mushrooms, and fruits), and ensuring sufficient animal protein for household consumption.
The project will facilitate access to small-scale irrigation equipment through matching grants and comprehensive support packages, strengthen market linkages and value addition by building the capacity of farmer organizations and value chain actors, and improve their access to finance.
SAIP II will also provide training to reduce postharvest losses and enhance the quality of produce, while facilitating market access at domestic, regional, and international levels.
Continuing to finance private investments in assets to boost market linkages and value addition activities through matching grants will be an integral part of the project’s objectives.
SAIP II's impact is vast, aiming to benefit smallholder farmers, Water Users Associations (WUAs), Self-Help Groups (SHGs), cooperatives, Agro SMEs, and 65,688 households, of which at least 42 percent will be women benefiting from nutrition-sensitive agriculture.
The project also targets various value chains, including vegetables and fruits for domestic, regional, and international markets, maize and Irish potatoes for domestic and regional markets, and beans for domestic markets.
SAIP II will be implemented across nine districts from the initial phase (Rwamagana, Kayonza, Gatsibo, Ngoma, Nyanza, Rulindo, Karongi, Rutsiro, and Nyabihu) and expanded to 11 new districts (Kamonyi, Huye, Ruhango, Muhanga, Gisagara, Nyamagabe, Bugesera, Rusizi, Nyagatare, Kirehe, and Ngororero).
Funded by the Global Agriculture and Food Security Program (GAFSP) through the World Bank Group's International Development Association (IDA), SAIP II is implemented under the Single Project Implementation Unit (SPIU) of RAB.