The World Bank team has concluded Implementation Support Mission for Sustainable Agricultural Intensification and Food Security Project (SAIP).
The first meeting of the implementation support mission with SAIP team and representatives from Food Agriculture Organization (FAO) focused on reviewing the progress made and achieved in implementation of the project activities against all components since the last mission in March 2022.
The meeting also reviewed all SAIP components, sub-components and their specific technical issues as well as discussed the kickoff of the newly launched project Commercialization and De-Risking for Agricultural Transformation (CDAT) Project.
As part of the implementation support mission, the World Bank team also held a hybrid meeting with senior officials from the Rwanda Agriculture and Animal Resources Development Board (RAB) and the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources.
The mission team led by Åsa Giertz is a Senior Agriculture Economist and the World Bank Task Team Leader of SAIP conducted field visits to SAIP intervention site in Rwamagana district, Eastern Province to assess the progress made by the project towards transforming agriculture and improving lives and incomes of farmers (project beneficiaries).
During the visit, the World Bank team met with Rwamagana district local leaders before holding an interactive discussion with farmers regarding the project support.
Farmers put up an exhibition tent where they showcased what they achieved following the project intervention in the area.
Some of the showcased activities at the project sites included nutrition programs, horticulture production, Small Scale Irrigation Technology schemes, matching grant schemes cooperatives formation, and saving schemes among others.
The World Bank team also met and had interactive discussions with farmers where the farmers expressed gratitude to the World Bank and the government of Rwanda for their effort to transform rural communities.
At the end of the mission, the World Bank team prepared a joint-report with the SAIP team on the required actions and activities that would further facilitate the achievement of the development objectives over the remaining life of the project.
The World Bank team comprises of experts from the sector of agriculture in the fields of Farmers Organizations, Agribusiness, Extension, Nutrition, Irrigation, Credit and Rural finance, Social and Environmental Safeguards, Procurement and Finance.
The Government of Rwanda signed a Grant Agreement between the World Bank, acting as administrator of the Global Agriculture and Food Security Program (GAFSP), and the Republic of Rwanda for the financing of SAIP.
The main development objective of SAIP is to increase agricultural productivity, market access, and food security of the targeted beneficiaries in the project areas
Currently, SAIP is implemented in eight districts: Rulindo, Rwamagana, Ngoma, Karongi, Rutsiro, Kayonza, Nyanza, Gatsibo, Nyabihu, however, the project implementation will expand to other areas during implementation as required by the Government of Rwanda and in agreement with the World Bank Group.
SAIP is implemented under the four components; 1. Institutional Strengthening, Agriculture Productivity Enhancement, and Nutrition Improvement, 2. Irrigation and Water Use Efficiency, 3. Market Linkages and Value Addition Investment Support and, 4. Project Management and Technical Assistance.
The SAIP implemented under Rwanda Agriculture and Animal Resources Development Board (RAB) Single Project Implementation Unit (SPIU) will support the Government's efforts to accelerate growth in the agricultural sector and further to reduce poverty.